Eerie prison named Britain’s ‘most haunted place’ saved from shutting | UK News

A 17th century prison renowned for being the ‘most haunted place’ in Britain has been saved from closing its doors to visitors.

Shepton Mallet Prison was the UK’s oldest operating jail when it stopped housing inmates in 2013 and has since gone on to become a popular tourist attraction.

Many prisoners were executed in the grounds of the site in Somerset throughout its long history, dating back almost 400 years to 1625.

Among those were 16 condemned US soldiers who were hanged during World War II, and two who were shot by firing squads.

Paranormal activity is claimed to be common-place throughout HMP Shepton Mallet and tourists were devastated when it was announced the attraction – complete with guided tours, spooky escape rooms and overnight stays – would be shutting. 

It was set to close on January 2 after a disagreement between the attraction operators and the prison owners City & Country, but a new deal has now been agreed at the last minute and it will remain open in 2024.

‘We are optimistic about our forthcoming discussions with City & Country and relieved on behalf of our hard-working staff who now know that their jobs are secure into the new year,’ said Joel Campbell, CEO of Cove Group.

‘We would like to thank the local community for their support in recent weeks and hope that this continues as we remain open for business.’

Shepton Mallet’s dark history is enough to send shivers down your spine and perhaps its most eerie story is that of the white lady.

Her ghost is said to roam the wings and prison officers reported how they would see shadows and white figures standing on the stairs.

She was held in the jail in her final days before she was due to be hanged in the town centre for murdering her husband.

But on the morning of her execution, she was found dead in her cell lying on the bed in her wedding dress – her final request had been to wear the dress when she was killed.

No cause of death was ever determined and it was concluded that she must have died of a broken heart.

The white lady’s alleged presence was so severe that the Home Office even carried out an investigation in the 1970s after an increase in prisoners requesting additional bedding because of a cold draught and the smell of sweet perfume wafting through the corridors.

Prisoners claimed they were becoming uncomfortable in their cells and some officers started refusing to work night shifts because it was so terrifying.

Results of the Home Office investigation remained ‘inconclusive’, according to the prison. 

The Kray twins were also famously kept at the prison for a month in September 1952 while they awaited court-martial after assaulting a police officer who tried to arrest them for going AWOL from the army.

In its later years, Shepton Mallet housed category C inmates who had been sentenced to life behind bars and held up to 189 prisoners.

Three-part ITV drama Des was filmed at the jail and released in 2020, while the site also won the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice award the same year.

Cove Group added on its Facebook page: ‘We are thrilled to announce that Shepton Mallet Prison will remain open in the new year.

‘Preserving and protecting the heritage of this incredible building is close to our hearts, and we are delighted that our team will be able to welcome more visitors in 2024.’

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