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 at Skólavörðustígur in Reykjavík
Hegningarhúsið exercise yard

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

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  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. ^ a b 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.
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64°08′44″N 21°55′53″W / 64.1455°N 21.9315°W / 64.1455; -21.9315