HMP Shepton Mallet, also known as Cornhill, is a former prison in Somerset steeped in centuries of dark history. Established in 1625 as a house of correction, it operated for nearly 400 years, confining some of Britain’s most notorious killers, rapists, and criminals until its closure in 2013. Today, it has been transformed into a popular tourist destination, renowned for its haunted reputation and paranormal sightings.
This grim institution was once home to infamous inmates, including the notorious Kray twins, and witnessed many executions, especially during the Victorian era. Hanging was the primary method of execution in Britain for centuries, with public hangings held until 1868. Historical records and newspaper archives reveal the harrowing final moments of many inmates who faced the gallows at Shepton Mallet.
The prison became Somerset’s execution centre from 1889, replacing Taunton, and was the site of at least seven judicial executions between 1889 and 1926. During World War II, it recorded 18 military executions, with the majority convicted of murder or rape.
READ MORE: Design of New A39 Bridgwater Cycle Link to Cost £78,000
READ MORE: Avon Fire & Rescue to Relocate Headquarters from Shared Police Facility
Amongst the prisoners who met their fate here were Samuel Reyland, executed in 1889 for the brutal murder of a young girl; Henry Dainton, who was hanged in 1891 for drowning his wife; and Charles Squires, condemned for killing his stepson in 1893. Stories like these paint a dark portrait of life and death behind Shepton Mallet’s walls.
Other notable executions include Henry Quarterly in 1914 for shooting his neighbour, Verney Asser in 1918, an Australian soldier who murdered a comrade during WWI, and John Lincoln, the last civilian executed at Shepton Mallet in 1926 for murder.
Many executed prisoners were buried in unmarked graves within the prison grounds, their remains still there today, underscoring the grim atmosphere that pervades the site.
Visitors now claim the prison is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Firsthand accounts report spirits and unexplained phenomena, including a woman in a wedding dress believed to be the ghost of a 17th-century inmate, as well as apparitions linked to the prison’s use by the US military. Paranormal investigations frequently document eerie encounters with disembodied voices and fluctuating electromagnetic fields.
One recent visitor described their experience as undeniably paranormal, citing clear spirit communication and activations of EMF devices. This haunted legacy, combined with its historic significance, makes HMP Shepton Mallet a unique and eye-opening destination for those intrigued by the supernatural and Britain’s criminal past.