What lies beneath?
In the picturesque town of Shrewsbury, the Victorian Prison, as seen today, sits on top of the original Georgian Prison. The remains of this Prison are still there today, accessible underneath the current Prison.
Join Haunted Heritage
We will take you inside one of the most chilling places for enthusiastic ghost hunters. Paranormal encounters have been described within this Prison, and the most oppressive atmosphere when you first enter the door! Are you brave enough to join us?
Is it Haunted – Oh, YES.
Branded one of Britain’s most haunted places, a prison famous for executions and other disturbing events. The Prison was in operation from 1793 until 2013, when it was closed due to overcrowding.
Whose spirits are still within its walls?
Mysterious shadows and unexplained noises have been seen and heard. A ghostly apparition has been seen numerous times, referred to as the ‘Shadow Man.’ No one is sure who he is, but he is known to lurk in the Prison’s ‘A’ wing; many believe he is an ex-prison officer.
Haunted ‘C – Wing?
The former female C-Wing is said to be the most haunted part of the Prison. Tales of the ‘Grey Lady’ has been seen walking along the landings at night, and what of the little Georgian girl who appears on the steps of the wing. Who is she?
Public Hanging
The last public hanging was on 11th April 1863, when 30-year-old Edward Cooper was executed for murder. To this day, the area where these hangings took place has experienced ghostly encounters.
Last Execution
On 9 February 1961, 21-year-old George Riley was executed by hanging for the murder of a 62-year-old woman. This would be the last execution at Shrewsbury Prison before capital punishment was abolished in 1969.
During redevelopment in 1972, the remains of ten prisoners executed at Shrewsbury prison were unearthed. Nine of those prisoners were unrecognisable and afterwards were cremated. The remaining prisoner was identified as George Riley, and his remains were handed over to his relatives.
Shrewsbury Prison, also known as The Dana, was completed in 1793 and named after Rev. Edmund Dana.
Back in its day, HM Prison Shrewsbury was a category B/C men’s prison and was decommissioned as a prison in March 2013. With more than 130 years of incarceration, murder, suicide, and execution, it is no surprise that this building is haunted.