GLOUCESTER PRISON
Next to the historic docks of Gloucester in England, stands a foreboding structure that has witnessed over two centuries of human suffering, despair and death. HMP Gloucester, built in 1782 and opening in 1791, is more than just a relic of the past, it’s a chilling monument to the darker side of history. From its early days as a place of confinement for the country’s most dangerous criminals to its modern reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the UK, the prison’s walls hold stories that refuse to be forgotten.
Over the years, the prison expanded to accommodate its growing population. In the 1820s, the perimeter walls were extended and a new debtor’s prison was added. By 1840, the facility could hold up to 300 men and 50 women, each confined to their own cell. The mid-19th century saw further additions, including the construction of A and B wings, built atop the original 1792 gatehouse. Despite these expansions, the prison was marked by overcrowding, violence and death, with 123 executions carried out within its walls, the last occurring in 1939.
Executions at Gloucester Prison were a macabre spectacle. From 1826 to 1868, they were conducted publicly on the roof of the gatehouse, drawing crowds eager to witness the grim event. After public executions were outlawed, the practice moved behind closed doors, with 17 prisoners hanged privately between 1872 and 1939. A new execution chamber, built in 1912 at the end of A wing, became the final stop for six condemned souls. Even today, the outline of the chamber remains visible, a chilling reminder of the prison’s dark past.
But the executions are only part of the story. Many more inmates met their end within the prison walls, some at the hands of fellow prisoners, others by suicide and many due to natural causes. The unclaimed bodies of the condemned were buried in unmarked graves on the prison grounds. In the 1980s, the remains of three such prisoners were unearthed during construction and reinterred in a nearby cemetery. Though the prison closed its doors in 2013, its dark history remains alive. Today, visitors can walk its corridors, see the execution chamber and feel the weight of the past in every corner.
HAUNTINGS OF GLOUCESTER PRISON
Staff, prisoners and visitors have long reported unexplained phenomena that defies explanation. Disembodied whispers are often heard from empty cells and the heavy slam of doors are known to echo through deserted wings. Late at night, the sound of phantom footsteps can be heard pacing the landings, as if unseen guards are still making their rounds. These eerie occurrences create a constant feeling of being watched.
One of the most specific and terrifying legends centres on Cell 25. This cell is said to be haunted by a spirit known as ‘Jenny,’ a woman believed to have been murdered on the land in the 15th century, long before the prison was built. It is thought that she endlessly roams the area, searching for her killer. This story gained notoriety in 1969 when a group of prisoners conducted a séance in Cell 25. They reported a terrifying outburst of poltergeist activity, with books and a flowerpot allegedly being thrown violently across the room by an unseen force.
The prison’s paranormal reputation is not confined to a single cell. In C Wing, a more modern addition to the prison, staff and paranormal investigators have frequently sighted dark, fleeting shadow figures. These apparitions dart in and out of view, adding to the wing’s already unsettling atmosphere.
The sheer number of deaths within the prison walls, from executions, suicides and violence, has created a dark and eerie legacy. The bodies of many condemned prisoners, particularly those executed under the 1752 ‘Murder Act’ or unclaimed by family, were buried in unmarked graves within the prison grounds. Though some remains were discovered and reinterred, it is believed that many more lie beneath the cold stone, their restless souls forever tied to their final, desolate resting place.
VISITING GLOUCESTER PRISON
Today, HMP Gloucester welcomes the public, inviting brave visitors to walk its landings, enter its cells and experience the unsettling atmosphere for themselves. Many who enter report a sense that they are not alone, with some claiming to feel the lingering presence of those who once lived and died, within its walls. Visitors can book a variety of experiences at Gloucester Prison, with a range of options including, paranormal investigations and candlelight tours each offering a truly immersive experience into the harsh realities of life as an inmate. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or you’re drawn to the paranormal, Gloucester Prison offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of its haunted and harrowing past.
If the tales of Gloucester Prison have captured your interest, you might also enjoy exploring the paranormal activity at Dorchester Prison another notoriously haunted English prison.
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