During the 19th century, this gracious old building, known as The Granary was a ‘House of Correction’, a women’s gaol! A grim place where women had little rest, no exercise and spent most of their days washing or sewing. Young Irish inmate woman Mary Cowrie, held charged with theft, described it as a ‘den of infamy’ and describes how she promised to speak out about it when a cellmate died soon after being flogged. Today women prisoners are held in Pollsmoor in Tokai, sometimes with their infants if they are mothers. Neglected for twenty years, the building has been restored as premises for the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation.
