padded cell

padded cell
Padded Cell was used to hold aggressive, disturbed or awkward prisoners. Usually the window was higher and the door wider than other cells.
	The wider door allowed warders to escort a prisoner - sometimes restrained in a straight-jacket - into the cell. The door swung outwards giving warders a full view of the cell at all times. Prisoners were placed in the cell for their own protection and apart from the horse hair filled pads which covered the walls and doors the room was empty. The cushioned walls must have stopped any noise entering into the cell - and noise from coming out too!