A Harsh Beginning
In 1818, British engineer Sir William Cubitt introduced the penal treadmill as a form of punishment for prisoners. Designed to provide hard labor, the treadmill had steps set into cast iron wheels, and the prisoner’s movement powered various machinery like corn mills and pumps.
The Goal: Reform and Labor
Cubitt’s original intention was to reform offenders by forcing them into labor. Prisoners walked for hours on end in a “pointless” motion, facing resistance with straps and weights. The treadmill became a common method of punishment, with prisoners walking for up to six hours a day.
Adopted Worldwide
In the early 1800s, the United States adopted the treadmill model. The first American penal treadmill was installed in Bellevue Hospital, New York City, in 1822, and another followed at the Old Newgate Prison. However, its use was short-lived, with most prisons abandoning the practice.
Decline and Abolition
By the turn of the century, the treadmill had fallen out of favor. In Britain, the use of penal treadmills was officially abolished in 1902. Over time, more humane methods of punishment replaced the harsh treadmill, making it a relic of an older, more punitive prison system.
In 1818, British engineer Sir William Cubitt introduced the penal treadmill as a form of punishment for prisoners. Designed to provide hard labor, the treadmill had steps set into cast iron wheels, and the prisoner’s movement powered various machinery like corn mills and pumps.🧵 pic.twitter.com/7YY8bdssaH
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 3, 2025