What does it feel like to be in a place that is said to contain the spirits of those long gone? I’ve often been curious about what this experience might be like so I decided to head to HMP Shrewsbury to record a podcast there, as it is said to be one of the most haunted prisons in the world. What better time to record a video podcast episode there than right before Halloween?
While I didn’t feel anything unusual or untoward before or during filming, I did feel uncomfortable when I found myself alone walking through C-wing and the prison courtyard afterwards. Nothing happened, but there is something eerie for me about walking through an empty prison that is said to be haunted.
HMP Shrewsbury isn’t the only prison in the UK that is thought to be haunted. I recorded an episode last Halloween where I spoke with staff from Shepton Mallet, and other haunted prisons around the world, and they shared their paranormal experiences with me. There were stories of apparitions of prison officers walking up the landings, whistling and jangling their keys. I heard about a young boy sitting on the stairs watching one of the tour staff clean up. I also heard of footsteps walking along the prison wing when nobody else was around.
During our podcast recording this week, I was told of similar experiences at Shrewsbury. The figure of what is thought to be a prison officer has been seen walking up the wing, cell doors close by themselves and some visitors have had their hair pulled, only to find there was nobody behind them. But why did Graham work here for so many years and see no paranormal activity, when others claim they have? Joel, the CEO now the prison is a tourist attraction, says it has to do with whether you’re open to believing in the paranormal. He has heard things while he has been working alone in the prison at night. But why are places like prisons haunted? One theory is the amount of suffering that has occurred in such a place. Interestingly, of the three prisons Joel operates in the UK, the one which has had the least executions is the one that appears to experience the least paranormal activity.
Come to think of it, when I was standing in the corner of the gift shop at Shrewsbury prison, six bags of sweets suddenly fell off the shelf on the other side of the room. Nobody was in the shop except me and the staff member, who was nowhere near them either…
What was Shrewsbury prison like and who did it serve? HMP Shrewsbury was an operational prison for around 220 years until it closed in 2013 with six other old prisons as a way to cut costs. Eight executions by hanging took place at the prison with the last taking place in February 1961. The prison was a category B/C local prison. Not only is it now a tourist attraction, it’s also been the site of recording for some shows such as Holby City and Time, and our podcast.
Shrewsbury was a small prison, only housing just over 300 prisoners. I interviewed Graham who was a prison officer for 38 years and spent many of them at Shrewsbury. He said working in a small prison enabled staff to get to know prisoners better which was always a positive thing for relations on the wings. Though he gave a word of warning – no matter how well a prisoner knows you or how well-liked you are, they wouldn’t think twice about assaulting you in certain situations.
Graham commented on the rising violence and self-harm in prisons over the years. He said that many years ago prisoners were given a razor head to shave with, then they had to return it to the staff after use. Now, he said prisoners are given disposable razors which they keep on their person. Razors can be a nasty weapon in prison and can cause a lot of damage to an individual. The Prison Governor’s Association in the UK said recently that assaults with a weapon in prison have almost doubled in the last 17 years from 12.3% to 25.1%.
I asked Graham if he missed being a prison officer. His response? He’s seen enough over the years to not have anything left to miss! And while he never experienced any paranormal activity at the prison himself, he says he’d still quicken his footsteps when walking along the wing, alone, in the middle of night. Just in case.
You can watch the conversation I recorded with Graham, and Joel, the CEO of the prison now it’s a tourist attraction, here.
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