HMP Styal

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The main prison buildings were built as an orphanage in the 1890s which closed in 1956. The site opened as a women's prison in 1962 when female prisoners from Strangeways were transferred in.

From 1983 Young Offenders were admitted and in 1999 a wing was added to accommodate unsentenced female prisoners following the closure of Risley's remand centre, increasing the prison size by 60%.

The prison was featured in the BBC2 documentary ‘Women on the Edge – the Truth about Styal Prison' on February 27th 2006.

Governor: Steve Hall.

Accommodation: Dormitories and Cells.

Operational capacity: 459 as of 20th March 2007.

Reception criteria: Normal reception arrangements: Styal accepts adult female prisoners and, in some cases, young offenders. There are facilities for mothers with babies up to age 18 months. Remand prisoners are received direct from the courts. Transfers of prisoners from other prisons must be arranged in advance.

www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/styal/