Långholmens rasp- och spinnhus, commonly known as Långholmens spinnhus (“thread-spinning house”), used to be a women's prison. It was created mainly as a means of controlling the numbers of beggars, the homeless and the unemployed. From 1723 onward, any unmarried homeless woman who did not have an employer, a legal profession or personal property, was labelled as defenseless. This status was considered criminal at the time, and such women were subsequently sent to this prison. The incarcerated women were divided into different groups depending on their age and abilities. The institution provided educational programmes for women prisoners which included occupational training with an emphasis on sewing. The prison was closed down in 1825.

Read more https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A5ngholmens_spinnhus

Photo: Holger Ellgaard

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