Hegningarhúsið

Hegningarhúsið (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈhɛkniŋkarˌhuːsɪθ], "The Penalty House") at Skólavörðustígur 9 in Reykjavík was a prison run by the Icelandic Prison Service. Built in 1872 by the designs of G. Ch. W. Klentz,^[1][2][3] it was the oldest prison in Iceland.^[4] All operations in Hegningarhúsið ceased on 1 June 2016.^[5]

Hegningarhúsið exercise yard

Hegningarhúsið at Skólavörðustígur in Reykjavík

The origins of the Icelandic phrase "going to the stone" (fara í steininn) is purportedly due to the stone interiors of this prison.^[6]

It was last used as a reception prison, where prisoners stayed for a short period of time when at the beginning of serving a sentence. The house was designated as historic property in 1978.^[5]

There were 16 prison cells in Hegningarhúsið, small and narrow with poor ventilation. The cells were without toilets and sinks.

References

1. "Hegningarhúsið - Friðuð hús á Íslandi". hus.fornleifavernd.is. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
2. "SMIÐJAN Hegningarhúsið við Skólavörðustíg Hegningarhúsið við Skólavörðustíg er". www.mbl.is. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
3. "Ágrip íslenskrar húsagerðarsögu fram til 1970" (PDF).
4. "Hegningarhúsið þarf 250 milljónir: Stinga upp á tónleikahaldi í garðinum - DV". DV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
5. Ferlir. "Hegningarhúsið við Skólavörðustíg". www.ferlir.is. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
6. "Hegningarhúsinu lokað – en hvað á að gera við bygginguna?". Retrieved 2017-05-20.

External links

• Website

64.1455°N 21.9315°W / 64.1455; -21.9315