Our Story
The land on which Holloway estate stands has been owned by the City of London since 1832. Spanning both sides of Parkhurst Road, the estate comprises of 180 flats, maisonettes and houses which was built between 1962 and 1975.
On the ground floor of Whitby Court there are 12 units which have been specially adapted for use by people with disabilities.
The area and the estate’s surrounding grounds has always been steeped in local history. The most notable is the Holloway Prison situated just a stone’s throw away from the estate, known locally as the Camden Castle. The Prison was designed by James Bunstone Bunning (in which Bunning House was named after) and completed in October 1852 as the City of London House of Correction. At the time the facility was used to imprison both men and women, perhaps one of the most famous attendees was Oscar Wilde. It did not become the first and only all-female prison until 1903. It was one of the largest women’s prisons in Europe and held prisoners for all sorts of criminal offences including spying during the World War. In the early 20th Century, women of the Suffragette movement were all held here. As well as women whom were condemned to death. In total, there were 15 women whom where executed in England in the 20th century. Five of which were held in Holloway Prison between 1903 and 1955. The last woman to be hanged was Ruth Ellis on July 1955 for murder and was buried in unmarked graves within the grounds of the prison. However, since the rebuilding of the prison in 1970, the graves of the women had since been moved to cemeteries all over England. The Holloway Prison was then reopened in 1977.
