Foston Hall was built in 1863 as a family home and was acquired by the Prison Service in 1953. Since then it has been used as a detention centre, an immigration centre and a satellite of nearby HMP Sudbury. Shut in 1996, it reopened on 31 July 1997 as a closed women’s prison following major refurbishment and building work.
Accommodation
- First night and induction unit for 63 prisoners
- C wing – mainstream accommodation for 40 prisoners
- D wing – mainstream accommodation for 29 prisoners
- E wing – unit for 11 long-term and enhanced regime prisoners
- F wing – mainstream accommodation for 63 prisoners
- G wind – temporary accommodation holding 34 lower-risk women
- T wing – mainstream accommodation for 56 prisoners.
The prison is part of the East Midlands region. It has a capacity of 296 and the #1 governor is called Helen Clayton-Hoar, who has been in charge since October 2020.