Mal Maison Oxford

open doors was on last weekend! all the museums and university buildings open their doors for free- and lots of "interesting" buildings offered free tours- like the mal maison hotel which is inside the oxford prison - the prison was victorian, and only closed in 1996, it's been used for loads of TV series including bad girls before the hotel chain took it over. they've used 3 cells to make each room.

my dad in the lobby, waiting for the hotel tour, enjoying the furniture. 

victorian ironwork- looks like porridge!

the outside of the prison, from the exercise yard- now the home of lots and lots of sun loungers.

this was where the drop cells were- where the hangings took place.

inside the prison... teeny tiny doors

my parents. in prison.

heavy doors.

more of the ironwork

one of the hotel rooms- intereting marketing ploy, looks comfy though!

oxford, from the cocktail lounge. this was once the visitors room, and the wardens look out is now used as the DJ booth.

mal maison keeps one cell as it would have been when the prison was in use for visitors to see- an interesting touch.