Repro ID: PX8260
Title: Prison hulk.
Description: When the North American colonies declared their independence in 1776 and closed their ports to British convict ships, a crisis in the criminal justice system followed. This led to a policy of converting old merchant ships and naval vessels into floating prisons known as hulks, many of which were moored in the River Thames.
Creator: Unknown
Date: c. 1810
Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London
