[3] It was designed according to the humane separate system principle with a number of corridors radiating from a central control point with each prisoner having toilet facilities.

[4] On 29 July 1879, Catherine Webster was executed for the murder and dismemberment of her mistress, Mrs. Thomas, at Richmond.

The murder, which occurred in March, was for the purpose of stealing Mrs. Thomas' property and going to America with a man named Webb.

[5] In 1930, inmate James Edward Spiers, serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery, took his own life in front of a group of justices of the peace who were there to witness his receiving 15 lashes, then a form of judicial corporal punishment.

[8] On 8 July 1965, Ronnie Biggs escaped from the prison, where he was serving a 30-year sentence for his part in the Great Train Robbery.

The transfers, which included vulnerable prisoners, were made in order to manipulate population figures.

[15] On 6 September 2023, Daniel Abed Khalife, on remand awaiting trial in relation to terrorism and the Official Secrets Act, escaped from the prison.

[16][17] The escape caused significant disruption at airports and ports around the UK due to enhanced security checks.

The large prison chaplaincy offers chaplains from the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, and Jehovah's Witness faiths.

[24] Chris Atkins'[25] book A Bit of a Stretch: The Diaries of a Prisoner[26] describes ongoing poor conditions during his stay in 2016–2017 with many of the touted improvements merely being on paper rather than having been implemented.