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Shepton Mallet Prison - Shepton Mallet  Somerset Ghost Hunt

Shepton Mallet Prison - Shepton Mallet Somerset Ghost Hunt

Somerset Ghost Hunts / Paranormal Nights / Haunted Events

Get ready for an incredibly intense ghost hunt experience at Shepton Mallet. The building's prevailing emotions revolve around survival, basic instincts, and challenging behaviors, which have become deeply ingrained in its very fabric. You will encounter echoes reverberating through the corridors as you explore - a haunting reminder of the prisoners who once resided here. The writings etched onto the cell walls offer a glimpse into the harsh and gruesome past of Shepton Mallet, which was initially established as a House of Correction in 1625.

During the ghost hunt, you will work in small groups, conducting captivating experiments to establish contact with the spirits that still roam these prison corridors. Ouija Boards, table tipping, glass moving, and intense watch-and-wait vigils are some of the experiments that you will engage in, facilitated by our state-of-the-art ghost-hunting equipment. Our friendly and capable team will guide you through the most active areas of the prison, ensuring your safety and providing support throughout the night. Be prepared to keep your wits about you as you embark on this terrifying journey into the unknown.

Location History

In 1617, there was a discussion about establishing another House of Correction to serve the Eastern division of the county. Eventually, in 1624, it was determined that Shepton Mallet would be the best location for the additional prison. To comply with the 1610 Bridewell Act of King James I, Cornhill House was acquired in 1625 and converted into the new House of Correction. George Sheephaye became the first Governor of the prison. During its early years, men, women, and children were held together in substandard conditions. The gaolers' lack of proper wages resulted in a lack of discipline, and the absence of basic sanitation led to frequent outbreaks of diseases like gaol fever.

Instead of imposing lengthy prison sentences, the House of Correction relied on corporal and capital punishments. By the 1700s, more than 200 crimes were punishable by death, even for minor offenses or misdemeanors, which became infamously known as the Bloody Code.

In the 1800s, Shepton Mallet Prison underwent significant improvements as the Victorians expanded the facility. Hard labor activities such as Oakum Picking, the Crank, and the Treadwheel were introduced. Moving into the mid-1800s, the Silent and Separate system was implemented, requiring prisoners to maintain complete silence throughout the day and confining them to individual cells at night.

Starting from 1868, Shepton Mallet Prison was responsible for overseeing executions. Between 1889 and 1926, seven men were executed for murder, and their bodies are believed to still be within the prison grounds. However, during the early 1900s, the prison began to experience a decline, leading to the departure of all female prisoners by 1918. By 1930, the prison population had dwindled to around 50 male inmates, and due to the deteriorating condition of the facility, it was decided to permanently close its doors.

The British Military repurposed Shepton Mallet Prison as a military prison, known as the Glasshouse. In 1942, the Americans took control of the prison.

haunted street, ghost hunting uk

Shepton Mallet Prison Somerset
Ghost Hunt

Investigating with the Paranormal Eye UK Team throughout the evening
Exclusive access after dark
Group Vigils
Séances
Spiritual Medium during the investigation
Working in Small Groups, Using an array of different equipment and techniques
Complimentary Tea, Coffee,
Complimentary light snacks

Location Directions

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HMP Shepton Mallet, also known as Cornhill, stands abandoned and devoid of its former prisoners. This historic prison, which operated until 2013, held the title of being the oldest prison in England. Prior to its closure, Shepton Mallet Prison served as a Category C lifer prison, housing some of the most dangerous and hardened criminals, including the infamous Kray Twins during the 1950s. The eerie silence that now fills the empty corridors and lifeless cells beckons those with a fascination for the harsh realities of such a desolate and unforgiving existence to explore its depths. Originally constructed in 1625 as a House of Correction, this prison holds a dark and terrifying past. The conditions endured by the inmates during the 17th and 18th centuries were unimaginably brutal, with men, women, and children confined to cramped, disease-ridden cells, often left to starve. It is rumored that the grounds hold unmarked graves of former prisoners, and between 1889 and 1926, seven judicial executions took place within its walls, though the true number of executions prior to this remains unknown. For those seeking paranormal experiences, ghost hunts, investigations, and tours, Shepton Mallet Prison offers a hauntingly captivating adventure into the unknown.

Ghost Hunting Events, Ghost Tours, Ghost Hunts Uk
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