On this day in history: Dartmoor Prison mutiny rocks Devonshire

On January 24, 1932, a violent mutiny erupted at Princetown prison, marking this day in history as one of the darkest chapters in the institution's past.

The catalyst for the uprising was an unexpected source - watered-down porridge. The spark that ignited the mutiny began on a Sunday morning when the governor, after inspecting the porridge, found that, by the time it reached the prisoners, it had been mysteriously diluted.

Approximately 150 prisoners seized this seemingly mundane incident as an opportunity for chaos. The prison descended into a frenzied rampage of destruction as the mutineers ran uncontrollably throughout the facility. The administration block, after being set on fire, was completely gutted, adding to the mayhem.

Prison officers became targets of the violence, facing attacks that left some injured. The governor and his deputy narrowly escaped harm as prisoners actively sought them out during the chaos.

Despite the intensity of the mutiny, miraculously, no one managed to escape, and there were no reported fatalities. However, numerous inmates suffered injuries, ranging from broken limbs to a fractured skull.

In the aftermath, a temporary court was swiftly established within Princetown to bring justice to the mutineers. Thirty-one individuals were tried for their involvement in the uprising, with the ringleaders receiving longer sentences as a consequence.