Due to spinal problems,I now have get my explore fix the easy way,so this prison was a good choice on a wet Bank Holiday Monday.Some basic history on this Prison:
HMP Shepton Mallet, sometimes known as Cornhill, is a former prison located in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. When it closed in 2013, it was the United Kingdom's oldest operating prison, and had been since the closure of HMP Lancaster Castle in 2011. Before closure Shepton Mallet was a Category C Lifer Prison holding 189 prisoners. The prison building is grade II* listed. Its closure was announced in January 2013 by Chris Grayling.
We were informed that the modern building where prisoners were first admitted is not open for visits at the present however there is much to see in the old part which was built in 1610 and there cells that have been discovered from that period.
Some pics now:
This doesnt look much,however this was where the condemned man stood waiting to hang
This was the hanging block built around 1868 when public executions were abolished
The dead man was then cut down in the room below and prepared for burial..the body would have dropped through where the ceiling outline is
Exercise Yard with raised pond
Serious bit of keep out or keep in!
B wing,the largest of the wings
This Chapel was part of the newer buildings from the 1970`s
The wall to the right in 4 section was where prisoners faced a firing squad
Treadmill House where prisoners were worked like hamsters to power the corn mill stones
Gate Keepers Lodge..very cramped indeed
Near Gate Lodge,this is part of the 1610 cells uncovered..you can crawl in to see more,however with my back,I improvised
We finished up on C wing but there is much more to see at Shepton Mallet Prison
For a more concise walkthru:
https://klempner69.smugmug.com/Shepton-Mallet-Prison-2017/
Not sure when tours finish for this place but the man on the gate seemed to indicate October when tours stop,but then again,they said about Dana Prison!
HMP Shepton Mallet, sometimes known as Cornhill, is a former prison located in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. When it closed in 2013, it was the United Kingdom's oldest operating prison, and had been since the closure of HMP Lancaster Castle in 2011. Before closure Shepton Mallet was a Category C Lifer Prison holding 189 prisoners. The prison building is grade II* listed. Its closure was announced in January 2013 by Chris Grayling.
We were informed that the modern building where prisoners were first admitted is not open for visits at the present however there is much to see in the old part which was built in 1610 and there cells that have been discovered from that period.
Some pics now:
This doesnt look much,however this was where the condemned man stood waiting to hang
This was the hanging block built around 1868 when public executions were abolished
The dead man was then cut down in the room below and prepared for burial..the body would have dropped through where the ceiling outline is
Exercise Yard with raised pond
Serious bit of keep out or keep in!
B wing,the largest of the wings
This Chapel was part of the newer buildings from the 1970`s
The wall to the right in 4 section was where prisoners faced a firing squad
Treadmill House where prisoners were worked like hamsters to power the corn mill stones
Gate Keepers Lodge..very cramped indeed
Near Gate Lodge,this is part of the 1610 cells uncovered..you can crawl in to see more,however with my back,I improvised
We finished up on C wing but there is much more to see at Shepton Mallet Prison
For a more concise walkthru:
https://klempner69.smugmug.com/Shepton-Mallet-Prison-2017/
Not sure when tours finish for this place but the man on the gate seemed to indicate October when tours stop,but then again,they said about Dana Prison!