The land was originally purchased by Joseph Fels, an American soap-manufacturing millionaire and friend of George Lansbury, the prominent Christian Socialist who was also a leading member of the Poplar Board of Guardians.

Hollesley Bay was typical in that it mainly involved exposing its inmates to a period of work either on agricultural tasks or in the kitchens and other relatively unskilled activities.

The Irish writer Brendan Behan, arrested for IRA activities in 1939, was sent there, and subsequently described his experiences in Borstal Boy.

Accommodation at the prison comprises eight Residential Units, these are Hoxon, Stow, Plomsgate, Cosford, Wilford, Blything, Samford and Mutford, most of which have single occupancy rooms.

Subjects include literacy, numeracy, ESOL, music, Information Technology, cookery, graphic design and the Community Sports Leader Award.

There are full-time accredited vocational training courses in Building Operations, Plumbing, Motor Mechanics, Plastering, Bricklaying and Painting and Decorating.