[citation needed] The prison's main entrance was originally through an austere stone-built porter's lodge in the middle of the Springfield Road frontage.

The lodge's flat roof was designed to support the gallows scaffold and drop, while the forecourt could easily accommodate the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of spectators that would congregate for an execution.

The 28 year old Berwick born tailor and former soldier was convicted of murder of Samuel Galloway (49), a retired dock worker in Stratford.

[citation needed] The oldest man to be hanged in the 20th century in Britain was 71 year old German born grocer Charles Fremd who was executed on 4 November 1914 for murdering his wife at Leytonstone.

[6] In January 2013, the Ministry of Justice announced that older parts of Chelmsford prison will close, with a reduction of 132 places at the gaol.

Education at the prison is contracted to Milton Keynes College, and courses offered include literacy, numeracy, information technology, art, barbering, journalism, cookery, ESOL as well as social and life programs.

In addition, the prison has links to, and facilities provided by, organisations such as the Job Centre and the Samaritans.

[9] According to the Independent Monitoring Board bullying, violence and self-harm have increased markedly at the prison due to staff shortages.

The Independent Monitoring Board stated that the "level of service being provided to care for prisoners’ physical and mental health needs remains inadequate"[10] Due to staff shortages the staff were unable to provide engagement work or education for prisoners.

Peter Clarke said the rising violence, suicides, accessibility of drugs and bad living conditions made him consider using the Urgent Notification protocol, which would make the Justice Secretary take action.

Deborah Coles of Inquest said the prison was, "incredibly unsafe [the rate of suicides] suggests that the plethora of recommendations following previous self-inflicted deaths have not been implemented.