Shot by Bert Hardy, the black and white images show prisoners carrying out remedial tasks such as untying knots in post office string and sewing mail bags. Other intriguing shots show lags doing their daily one hour outdoor exercise, being frisked for contraband items by officers during a routine “rub down” and serving evening meals. Strangeways was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and cost £170,000 ($207,910) to build. The prison, famed for its prominent ventilation tower and imposing design, has become a local landmark. Here: Prison officer Davidson watches as a prisoner talks to a visitor at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, UK on November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)





Prison officer Davidson talks to a group of visitors at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, UK on November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)





Prison officer Davidson serving a prisoner a meal at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, UK on November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)





A prison officer frisking prisoners during the “rub-down” at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, UK on November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)





A prison officer surveys his dominion at 6.30 in the morning shortly before the wake-up bell at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England, 20th November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)





Prison officer Davidson interviewing a group of new prisoners in the reception room at Strangeways Prison, Manchester, UK on November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)





A prison officer supervising prisoners as they take out their night-slops at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England, 20th November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)





A prison officer watches over prisoners who are busy sewing mailbags in Strangeways Prison, Manchester, UK, 20th November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)





A prison officer supervising prisoners who are untying knots in Post Office string at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England, 20th November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)





Prison officers watching over prisoners as they take their daily hour of outdoor exercise at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, UK on November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)





Prison officers watch over prisoners at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England, 20th November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)





Prison officers watching prisoners return from their daily outdoor exercise at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England, 20th November 1948. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)