Prison mug
20th century
Mug from Reading Prison
In 1844, a gaol was built on the eastern end of the Reading Abbey site. It was based on the design of Pentonville Prison, with a cruciform shape and a forecourt for public executions. Over the course of its long history – the prison only closed in 2013 – the building held a number of famous prisoners, including Oscar Wilde (who penned 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' after his release) and the American actor Stacey Keach.
This white earthenware mug bears a transfer print saying 'Local Prison'. It must therefore date to the later part of the 20th century, since the building was a county gaol until this time. It was probably found during Slade’s 1971 to 1973 excavations of the site. The mug is in relatively poor condition: about a quarter of the vessel is missing, including the handle; there is a hairline crack in the remaining section; and the transfer print is smudged. It is nonetheless a good example of the kind of crockery used by 20th-century prisoners.
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