Women's Prison, Christianshavn

The Women's Prison seen from Christianshavns Torv

The Women's Prison at Christianshavn in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a correctional facility which existed under various names from the mid 17th century until 1921. From 1870 it served as a women's prison. Earlier names included Børnehuset and Tugt- og Rasphuset. Its last building, which dated from 1861, was torn down in 1928 to make way for an expansion of Torvegade.

History

Christianshavns Torv seen in the 18th century with de Lange's prison building seen on the left

The institution Børnehuset, a royal orphanage, was established at the site in 1622. It was gradually converted into a prison. The old building was replaced by a new one designed in the Baroque style by Philip de Lange and constructed between 1739 and 1742.

Lange's building was demolished in the early 1860s to make way for a new prison building completed in 1864 to designs by Niels Sigfred Nebelong. From 1870 it was known as Christianshavns Straffeanstalt (Christianshavn Penitentiary) and served as a prison for women.

Christianshavn Penitentiary was demolished in 1928 in connection with a widening of Torvegade.