Styal became a prison in the 1960’s and HMP Styal is the only female prison establishment in the North West. Styal has a mother and baby unit where mothers can retain their children until they attain the age of 18 months.
Accommodation
There are 16 detached Victorian houses, with mainly shared accommodation for approximately 20 women each. Some have specialist functions.
- Waite Wing – First night centre/ RCU and normal accommodation
- A1 – Bronte – currently closed and waiting to be reopened following refurbishment. A2 – Gaskell – normal accommodation
- B1 – Acorn – mother and baby unit
- B2 – Bruce – Incentivised substance-free living Houses
- B3 to E3 – general population
- H1 – Valentina – A quiet space for prisoners requiring a temporary location for timeout and respite.
- Care & separation unit – a small unit for segregated prisoners
New Development at Styal
In late January 2015 the Ministry of Justice opened a additional unit at Styal,, Bollinwood House. This is an open unit outside the gate holding 25 women as an open wing located just outside the main prison. This unit is a “stepping stone” for those nearing release to live in open conditions to enable them to better re-intergrate into normal society