PARANORMAL fanatics can put their nerves to the test and stay in the UK’s most haunted prison.
Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset became infamous over the years for its ghostly goings-on and terrifying inmates.
The 400-year-old Somerset lock-up even caged London’s most high-profile gangsters: the Kray twins.
It has become a must-visit spot for fans of dark tourism and offers guided tours, escape rooms and ghost-hunting experiences.
It’s even opened its doors as a wedding venue for those so in love that it’s criminal.
But now, for £69 per person, guests can experience life behind bars for a 12-hour overnight stay in the Victorian cell.
A tour of the wings, spooky old gate lodge and the execution room are part of the stay and there are even wardens are on duty through the night.
Visitors are able to either go ghost hunting in groups, or are given free roam to investigate on their own.
The jail was saved last year from the brink of closure after it was threatened to be turned into flats.
Breakfast is served early before the wardens escort the ‘inmates’ back out into civilisation.
The only rule to stay in the prison is that you have to be over the age of 18.
Sun reporter Nicola Agius mustered the courage to go on a ghost tour in the jail in 2023.
Armed with recording devices, Nicola heard a voice telling her to “get out”.
When she listened back to the footage from the comfort of her hotel room, it sent shivers down her spine.
“Though I didn’t hear it at the time, the sinister command is clear as day on our recording,” she wrote.
After it all became too much for Nicola, she ran down a dark corridor and accidentally ended up in the execution room.
To her horror, she discovered the remains of the former inmates are buried within the 400-year-old walls.
Before it closed its towering hardwood doors in 2013, even the toughest convicts feared visiting certain rooms.
“Prisoners did not like going into the library — which, unbeknown to them, was the old execution shed,” local historian Dave Cable, 52, explained.
Many stories have been shared about objects getting thrown, doors slamming forcefully, lights flickering on and off without explanation, and eerie voices that are hard to believe.
“I was a sceptic before I came here.”
Shepton, which former inmates have likened to “hell,” had one of the highest rates of suicide in prisons across the nation. It was specifically used for housing criminals with severe mental disorders.
Individuals diagnosed as psychopaths, suffering from schizophrenia, and battling depression were incarcerated there, creating fear among the staff. They were isolated in D Wing, which Dave noted as a hotspot for supernatural occurrences.
Cove Group, which has been managing the prison since 2017, struck a deal with the Ministry of Justice to buy the site after months of nail-biting negotiations.
CEO Joel Campbell said: “This marks the biggest step forward in our ten-year relationship with Shepton Mallet Prison.
“From our initial bid to buy it from the MoJ to the recent threat of closure, our dedication has never wavered.”
Previous owners, City & Country, had been eyeing a controversial redevelopment plan that would have turned the prison into luxury flats and townhouses, along with a café and ‘community heritage spaces.’
The news sparked outrage among locals and history buffs alike, leading to a massive backlash.
But Cove Group’s acquisition has put those plans on ice.
Instead, the group plans to invest heavily in the site, preserving its eerie charm and historical significance for future generations.
Campbell added: “This acquisition is not just about preserving history; it’s about celebrating and revitalising it.
“We are overjoyed to embark on this journey of transformation, ensuring that Shepton Mallet Prison remains a beacon of heritage tourism for generations to come.”
