Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB19/04/030

Address :
Former Maze Prison, Halftown Road Lisburn BT27

Townland:
Maze and Culcavy

---

Survey 2:
Not_Allocated

Date of Listing:

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:

Former Use
Prison

Conservation Area:

Industrial Archaeology:

Vernacular:

Thatched:

Monument:

Derelict:

---

OS Map No:
164/16 &165/13

IG Ref:

---

Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

The former prison was sited on the former RAF Long Kesh air base which comprised three runways and associated buildings including hangars and later an army base/barracks of the same name. The site is relatively flat forming low lying bog which prior to the RAF phase was undeveloped. For identification purposes the site was divided into zones (A-J) by the Norhern Ireland Prision Service, these include areas outside of the prison walls (A-D) and within the prison walls (E-J). Zone E was further subdivided (E1-8) as was Zone F (F1 & F2) A series of razor wire fences following historic field boundaries and landscape features demark the perimeter of the site which is irregular in shape being some 360 acres. The site is entered via the Extern Gate at the north east corner, a former staff and goods entrance to the prison. Visitors parking and reception was via Bog Road. The prison occupies a large central portion of the site with the former Long Kesh Army barracks, now largely demolished, to its east (Zone C). The majority of the prison is contained within a continuous high concrete perimeter wall (2.1 miles long) punctuated with watchtowers and flanked by a tarmac access road surrounding its length. The area to the west of the prison perimeter walls, (Zone A), retains a stretch of the former main runway and ancillary staff buildings and a firing range. To the north of the prisons perimeter wall is a linear area (Zone B) retaining two RAF hangars and other associated buildings, including blast shelters, as well as the visitors centre and court and legal complex. To the south of the prison is a similar linear area, (Zone D), which retains two walled M&E plants and several of the army manned watchtowers that surround the perimeter walls. The prison itself comprises two main components; Long Kesh Internment centre, also known as Maze Compound (Zone E, sub zones E1-8) and HM Prison Maze, also known as Maze Cellular (zones F, G, H and J). For avoidance of doubt Zone I does not exist. Maze Compound comprises the earliest prison enclosure and forms the eastern portion of the overall area within the perimeter walls. It forms an irregular parcel of land divided from Maze Cellular by a similar wall to the perimeter wall. Compunds of huts are arranged around the pattern of the original Long Kesh airfield. Maze Compound housed the original internment compounds. These are a series of small compounds defined by high perimeter fences and comprising Nissen huts and small structures. A standard compound arrangement included 3 dormitory Nissen huts with a fourth accommodating dinning and recreation and a purpose built timber hut ablution block. Each compound housed different paramilitary factions and was patrolled by guard and dog. The compounds were sparse, normally with concrete or tarmac ground covering. Also within this area are the former administrative and other buildings associated with the running and control of the Maze Compounds, including a punishment block, hospital, prison staff facilities, kitchens, dog and handler facilities, Research and Development facilities, inmate and visitor receptions. Sub zones E1-8 reflect the organizational arrangement and development of the compound area. Vehicular access to Maze Compound was located in the eastern perimeter wall leading into E7. Over all the area is much overgrown and deteriorated through a lack of maintenance. Numerous buildings are semi derelict and fences collapsed. Maze Cellular, to the west, post dates the compound forming a larger enclosure defined by a continuation of the high perimeter wall to Maze Compound. The area is accessed via a main gate located on the north wall at its west end (Zone F1). The area is divided into distinct and controlled zones; Zone F, an administrative area retaining entrance and visits block (sub zone F1), governors office, hospital and support structures (sub zone F2); Zone G, Phase I ‘H’ Block (H Blocks 1 & 2); Zone H, which includes a temporary visitors centre, inmate search block and Phase II of the ‘H’ Blocks (H Blocks 3, 4 & 5); and Zone J, Phase III of the ‘H’ blocks (H Blocks 6, 7, & 8) together with sports grounds, and ancillary structures. Within both the compound and cellular areas there are internal boundary walls, fences and dead zones, referred to as ‘Inertias’. Standard air locks, an arrangement of two gates at each end of a fenced enclosure, were located at each breach of the high perimeter walls or internal walls, controlling movement through the prison. The whole area is typified by greyness and lack of colour. The lack of any view out of the H-Block compounds to hills in the distance is striking. Strung between walls and helping to emphasise a sense of enclosure outside the buildings are wires with plastic toilet floats attached to prevent helicoper access. The prison compounds, thoroughfares and perimeter were monitored from observation towers located at key points within the complex. These towers comprise three distinct types reflecting their function and location, with variations dependant on the date of construction and any specialised use. Primary observation towers are located immediately outside the perimeter of the Cellular Prison and were manned by army personnel supplied by the Long Kesh Army Camp in Zone C. These monitored both the inertias within the perimeter and the hinterland between the perimeter wall and the site boundary fence along with the main Cellular Entrance. The occupants were armed and because of the tower’s location and function, are the most heavily fortified and tallest of the observation towers. Secondary and tertiary towers are located within the perimeter of the prison. Both were staffed by unarmed members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and consequently have become known as NIPS Towers. Secondary towers are located throughout the Maze Prison and have two distinct types. The majority are located adjacent to internal link gates and controlled the movement through the airlocks with control of the gate opening mechanism. These were less well defended than the primary towers but were still secured at ground level with lockable doors. In key areas such as around the visits complexes secondary towers are located away from the gates. The least secure and smallest of the towers were located to the north and south of the H Blocks serving to monitor the activities of inmates in the exercise yards. These have no door at ground level.

Architects

Historical Information

Prior to the construction of the prison the site formed RAF Long Kesh, established 1941. This was a busy WWII airfield principally associated with training flights and later linked to RAF Maghaberry as a satellite station for Care and Maintenance. An area of field systems were converted to provide a main east west runway with secondary runways aligned south east to north west and south west to north east. These were linked to ‘frying pan’ hard standings and taxiways. The majority of the buildings were located to the east of the site where two hangars were located. A further two hangars were located to the south and west of the runways along with the two surviving hangars to the north of the main runway used in the construction of Stirling aircraft. Following closure in 1945 the base formed the Army’s Command Vehicle Park and thelocation of the Ulster and Short Gliding club. The Gliding club continued until 1969 when the land was acquired to build the Long Kesh Internment compounds. Two hangars and associated shelters survived and were utilized during the Prison phase of the site. RAF Long Kesh was deemed suitable for the internment detention centre with existing Services Nissen Huts being arranged in groups to form sectarian compounds. The two north south runways were used as hard standing for the compounds with additional support structures and a perimeter wall being added. By the beginning of 1972, following the introduction in March of the Direct Rule of Northern Ireland, 20 huts had been built and the internment centre started receiving ‘politically motivated’ people convicted by the courts. This instigated a formal change of name to HM Prison Maze. From June of that year these political detainees were granted ‘Special Category Status’. The inmate accommodation was organised in sectarian compounds, largely controlled by an Officer Commanding (OC). Each paramilitary group had an OC who acted as spokesperson and a first point of contact between that group and the governor of the prison. This system was used in both Maze Compounds and Maze Cellular. In October 1974, nearly all of the compounds were set on fire and destroyed or severely damaged. Following the publication the Gardiner Report in January 1975 the Secretary of State announced that ‘H’ blocks were to be built on the Maze site as an interim measure while a permanent prison was built at Maghaberry. The ‘H’ Blocks were built by The Royal Engineers, largely from prefabricated components enabling rapid construction of reinforced concrete floors, walls and ceilings to create cells. Pre fabricated prison elements was pioneered in the USA in Louisiana’s Angola State Penitentiary in 1955. In June 1975 two of the H blocks, H1 and H2, had been built forming Phase I of the new prison (Zone G). These two were occupied by October. By April 1977 H3, 4, and 5 had been built, forming Phase 2 (Zone H), and H6, H7 and H8, forming phase 3 (Zone J) were under construction. On the 15th September 1976, Republican prisoners received as ordinary criminals, refused to wear prison clothes, demanding the reinstatement of political status and commensurate privileges. Blankets were worn in protest and became known as ‘The Blanket Protest’ with the authorities further removing their privileges in reaction. This resulted in an escalation of the protests and a general resentment amongst prisoners of the way in which they were treated and housed in the new H blocks. The protests continued with more than 300 prisoners involved by the end of 1978. By this time the protests had escalated with Republican prisoners starting the ‘Dirty Protest’, covering their cell walls with excreta, and in the process, heightened tension between staff and prisoners. During this period there was an increase in the paramilitary activity against prison staff with 12 staff and 1 senior member of the management team loosing their lives. On 27th October 1980, 7 Republican prisoners started the first of what became known as ‘Hunger Strikes’ following their refusal to accept the Governments offer of prison issue civilian clothes. The strikers were drawn from lists of volunteers compiled in H3, H4 and H5, thereby representing IRA and INLA (Irish National Liberation Army, formed 8th December 1974 as the military wing of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement) together with different regional factions. The hunger strike finished on the 18th December 1980 after the strikers had been taken from their dirty wings to a clean wing before being moved to the hospital for medical observation. In an act of support, ‘no-wash’ and hunger strikes were carried out at Armagh jail with 30 Republicans in the Maze ‘H’ blocks joining the protest. The Republican demands were; to be able to wear their own clothes, refrain from prison work, have free association, have weekly parcel and visits and the restoration of lost remission. The protest ended after 53 days without success. A second hunger strike was started by Bobby Sands, the IRA prisoners OC, on 1st March 1981. The protest was supported by fellow Republican prisoners with representatives from the two Republican organizations joining him. In April the Irish Republican Socialist Party and Peoples Democracy won two seats in the Belfast City Council elections and Bobby Sands won the By Election in Fermanagh and South Tyrone on April 9th to Westminster. He died a month later in the hospital block as a result of the hunger strike with a crowd of 100,000 attending his funeral. A further 9 hunger strikers died in the hospital (6 IRA and 3 INLA). During the Hunger Strikes a total of 61 people had been killed outside of the prison. In 1982 6 UDA members, seeking segregation, started a hunger strike with a further 150 refusing to leave their cells. 200 cells (equivalent to 2 H blocks) were wrecked. The effect of this protest was ‘De facto’ segregation; an important historical development in the Maze as it permitted defined segregated prisoner communities. As a result the Loyalist and Republican prisoners began to concentrate their challenges on the prison staff rather than the different factions. This also allowed ‘open compound’ style freedom and autonomy within a cellular arrangement. The escape in September 1983 of 38 Republican prisoners, in which one prison officer died and a number of others shot, along with a heightening of general security concerns, resulted in the closure of the existing Cellular Entrance and Visits Compound and the creation, immediately to the east, of a new entrance and visits complex (Zone F1). Throughout its history there has been a strong relationship and correlation between events inside and outside the prison. Acts of solidarity between paramilitary prisoners and members of their communities in other parts of the province (and elsewhere) were commonplace with riots and collective disobedience within the prison being sparked by political and sectarian developments outside and vice-versa. Following the Good Friday Agreement in 1997 and the visit to the Maze of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the release of prisoners from the Maze was accelerated. By 29th September 2000 the prison was vacant and only two of the H Blocks (4 and 5) were kept in serviceable order in case of emergency. On the 1st April 2004 the UK Government relinquished control of the site as part of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Historic Interest

Evaluation

A unique example of late 20th century emergency prison design. The Compound Prison displays the organic development of a temporary internment camp, reminiscent of WWII P.O.W. camps around the UK, into a more established structure with the concrete perimeter wall symbolising its increasingly permanent nature and the escalation of the ‘Troubles'. The Cellular Prison drew on influences from the USA and was probably the first UK example to utilise the H Block cellular form. The historical significance of the whole prison, in relation to the ‘Troubles’, is high with the structures, imagery and even name being synonymous with that conflict.

General Comments

This record is an overview of the whole Maze Prison Complex. Individual buildings or groups of buildings are recorded as HB19/04/030A - J where more detailed information is recorded and the contractors listing recommendations are made.

Date of Survey

22 July 2004