Shepton Mallet

Shepton Mallet Prison, often known as Cornhill or The Mallet, housed its first inmates in 1625.

As the prison moved in the 1800s, much reform of the prison system took place throughout the country. The Victorians began building new prisons and expanding old ones, such as Shepton Mallet.

After the abolition of public executions in 1868 and the closure of both Ilchester and Taunton gaols during the same century, Shepton Mallet prison became the County Gaol and was responsible for overseeing executions. Between 1889-1926, seven men convicted for crime of murder were executed in the prison. Their bodily remains were buried in the grounds of the prison and remain there to this day.

The prisons population started to decline in the early 1900s, the last women left in 1918 and by 1930 the population was around 50 male prisoners. Due to the size of the population and the deterioration of the site, the decision was to close the prison in 1930.

At the start of WWII, the prison reopened and became a British Military Prison, known as Glasshouse. This changed in 1942 after the US entered the conflict and took over the prison. At one time, between 1942-45, over 700 US servicemen were incarcerated here. 16 US servicemen were also hung and a further 2 executed by the firing squad during these years.

During the war, the old women’s wing became a Top-Secret repository for the National Archives as three hundred tonnes of records and archive materials moved from the Public Record Office in London for safe keeping.

After the Americans left at the end of the war, the prison reverted to a British Military Prison. It was during this time that the prison held the infamous London Gangsters, Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

In 1966, the prison once again reverted to a Civilian Prison.

In 2001 the role of the prison changed once more as it re-rolled to become a Cat.C Male Lifers prison. The inmates held at this time had been found guilty of some of the most serious offences, including murder, but would likely have already spent a considerable amount of time inside before arriving in Shepton Mallet prison and were a lower security risk.

The prison was finally decommissioned on 28th March 2013 in a ceremony held on the Exercise Yar, attended by officers and staff, past and present.