Shepton Mallet Prison: Military Executions and Ancient Cells
Britain's oldest prison held convicts for nearly 400 years and executed American and British military personnel during WWII. The execution room and ancient cells are intensely haunted.
Shepton Mallet Prison holds the distinction of being Britain’s oldest surviving prison, with parts dating to 1625. For nearly 400 years, it held criminals, debtors, and military prisoners. During World War II, it served as a military prison for the U.S. Army, and 18 American servicemen were executed there between 1943 and 1945. The prison closed in 2013 and is now open to the public for tours and paranormal investigations, with documented evidence of intense supernatural activity.
The History
Stuart Origins
The first prison on the site dates to 1625, making it nearly 400 years old. Some of the original structures still stand, including medieval-era cells that held prisoners for centuries.
Victorian Expansion
In 1790, the prison was significantly expanded. Built according to the “separate system,” it was designed to hold 130 inmates and included execution facilities. It became a “model prison” for the era.
World War II Military Prison
During WWII, Shepton Mallet served the U.S. Army. It held American military prisoners, was used for courts-martial trials, and 18 U.S. servicemen were executed between 1943 and 1945. Most were executed for murder or rape. British authorities also used it for military prisoners, and several British soldiers were executed there.
The Kray Twins
In the 1950s, the notorious Kray twins served time at Shepton Mallet during their military service, before their later criminal careers.
Closure and Paranormal Fame
The prison closed in 2013. It immediately opened for ghost hunts and historical tours, quickly becoming one of Britain’s most investigated paranormal locations.
The Hauntings
The Execution Room
Where 18 American soldiers and numerous British prisoners were hanged. The gallows mechanism survives, and intense electromagnetic anomalies, the sound of the trapdoor, choking and struggling sounds, and shadow figures with nooses have been reported. Visitors experience physical sensations of hanging, and it is considered one of the most active locations in Britain.
The Condemned Cells
Where prisoners spent their final hours. Cell doors slam violently, the sound of praying in various languages is heard, overwhelming dread and despair permeates the space, and apparitions of young men in military uniforms have been observed. Some executed were barely 20 years old.
A-Wing: The Ancient Cells
The oldest part of the prison (1625): Stone cells that held prisoners for centuries created a deeply oppressive atmosphere. Georgian and Stuart-era prisoners were housed there, and the sound of chains, scratching on walls, and visitors reporting feeling touched have been documented. Temperature drops of 20+ degrees have also been recorded.
The American Soldiers
The 18 executed U.S. servicemen: Young men in WWII-era uniforms appear confused about their location, and reports of American accents in EVP recordings have been documented. Their stories are tragic—most committed crimes while drunk—and they seem trapped between life and death.
The White Lady
A female apparition in Georgian dress. Seen throughout the prison, she is believed to be connected to the debtor’s wing, appears sorrowful, glides rather than walks, and has been witnessed by multiple witnesses across decades.
The Lady’s Wing
The women’s section, where female voices and crying are heard, and the ghost of a woman who died in childbirth is said to reside. Baby crying heard from empty cells, reflecting the experiences of Victorian women prisoners, has also been reported.
Documented Evidence
Shepton Mallet has yielded extraordinary evidence: Hundreds of EVP recordings, photographs of full apparitions, video footage of shadow figures, objects moving on camera, consistent phenomena witnessed by multiple groups, and scientific teams have documented anomalies.
Public Access
The prison offers historical daytime tours, ghost hunts and overnight investigations, special events and exhibitions, camping in the grounds, and is one of Britain’s most accessible paranormal locations.
Cultural Significance
Shepton Mallet represents 400 years of British penal history, WWII military justice, the execution of young American soldiers far from home, and a remarkably preserved example of prison evolution from 1625 to 2013.
Sources
- Wikipedia search: “Shepton Mallet Prison: Military Executions and Ancient Cells”
- Historic England — Listed Buildings — Register of historic sites