Women's Prison, Christianshavn


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

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 and served as a prison for women.
Christianshavn Penitentiary was demolished in 1928 in connection with a widening of Torvegade.