Westwood Works 1903-2003

HMP Peterborough

As indicated in Demolition, work on building the new prison began as soon as the demolition of the buildings at the north end of the site began. The Prison occupies the northern-most end of the site and the outer security wall finishes approximately where the Pattern Shop used to be. The area between this and Westfield Road, stretching from the railway up to and including an area behind the Apprentice School, is currently being prepared as a landscaped local amenity area. This will include a skate board park, all-weather 5-a-side football pitch, footpaths, wild flower meadows and other features. It is expected that work will be completed by the end of 2004. The first occupants are expected in the Prison in early 2005.

Here are shown some photographs of the construction work taking place to build HMP Peterborough:

April 2003: Construction work keeps pace with the Factory demolition

August 2003: Erecting the Cell Blocks

August 2003: Work has reached the Black Shed

September 2003

October 2003

November 2003

January 2004

April 2004: Start of landscape work fronting Westfield Road

December 2004 : Work on the landscaped area progresses. NOTE: The two green towers are not part of the landscaping but belong to a new mosque in the Gladstone Street/Cromwell Road area.

This shows how relatively little of the original site is taken up by the prison buildings. The size of the open space fronting onto Westfield Road is very apparent. This is currently being made into a public park. The only two ex-Baker Perkins buildings remaining are the Holding Company Offices and the Apprentice School - both now privately owned.

Three "History Boards", describing the history of the site, will be a permanent feature of the public park. Copies will also be sited within the Prison.

On 21st February 2005, nearly 200 ex-Baker Perkins employees were invited to tour the new Prison. Here are some photographs from that day:

Naming of the Park

The landscaped area between the Prison and Westfield Road, once occupied by Baker Perkins's offices and factory, was officially opened and named Baker Park by The Deputy Mayor of Peterborough on Tuesday 4th September 2007. Some photographs of the event follow:

In the last photo, it will be obvious from the Apprentice School in the background that Margaret and Dick Preston are standing where the Main Works Entrance once was.