Mmmm, comfy. 4 star dream bed. OK, not so much, but it probably beats sleeping on the slate floor. (The women's block had the "luxury" of wooden floors.) Although there was little concern about the prisoners' comfort there was some concern about their well-being, though part of this stemmed from self-interest. The amount of food and other provisions was controlled by Government regulations, and food in particular was distributed in sufficient quantity to try to maintain the prisoners' health. "It is... the duty of the state, as well as its interest, to discharge a prisoner in a physical condition fitted to enable him to earn his living at labour".

For a standard prisoner the daily allowance was 8 oz (227 grams) of maize / oats (as porridge for breakfast), 16oz (454 grams) of bread, 6oz (170 grams) of meat, 8 oz of potatoes, 1 oz (28 grams) of sugar, half an ounce of soap and the same of salt. Women received the same except for getting only 6oz of maize/oats and 12 oz (340 grams) of bread. Children received rations of bread, meat, sugar and 1 pint of milk. (I don't think that the children were actual prisoners, but younger ones were allowed to stay with their mothers who were.)

This amount may vary depending on whether a prisoner was at hard labour, on remand or awaiting bail, or serving a short term sentence.