The Lazeretto Cell, usually placed near a prison's gatehouse, was an isolation cell where new prisoners were given a bath and health check before being allowed into the main prison.

Prisoners would be issued with prison uniform and their own clothes fumigated or burnt to kill lice and fleas. It is likely this cell also had an earth closet (toilet) which prisoners working in the exercise yard or garden could use.

According to the Inspector's report of 1904, the present courtyard was then a "beautiful garden."

"The Female prisoner's own clothes store, Tothill Fields Prison."
(Criminal Prisons in London and Scenes of Prison Life by H. Mayhew and J. Binny, first published in 1862.)

"Fumigating prisoners' clothes at Coldbath Fields Prison."
(Criminal Prisons in London and Scenes of Prison Life by H. Mayhew andJ. Binny, first published in 1862.)