Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Escape plan
DARTMOOR, DEVON, 1812
This bird's eye view of Dartmoor prison was drawn by someone who clearly knew it well
but was apparently unused to his task. He used a strange perspective to impose a detailed site
plan onto a watercolour painting of the impressive moorland landscape in which the prison is
set, giving a sense of the wild remoteness of its location. A compass indicator at lower right
indicates that north is to the left; the viewer faces east, out towards the moors. The prison
was at that date newly built, to house French prisoners captured during the Napoleonic wars
(c.1803-1815) since facilities on board the prison 'hulks' or derelict ships were known to be
inadequate and cramped, with swelling numbers as the war went on. The first prisoners had
arrived here in 1809.
