HM Prison Shepton Mallet, Military prison in Shepton Mallet, England
HM Prison Shepton Mallet is a fortified stone detention facility in Shepton Mallet, England, now recognized as a Grade II listed building. The complex includes several cell blocks, heavy gates, and a central courtyard surrounded by thick walls and barred windows.
The facility was established in 1625 under King James I following the Bridewell Act to hold vagrants and petty criminals. During World War II, it housed American military prisoners while also serving as a secure storage site for important documents.
The facility preserves its original layout as a house of correction that later became a place of hard labor and strict confinement for inmates. Visitors can still see the execution chamber and the cells where prisoners lived under harsh conditions.
Guided visits provide access to the site daily and allow entry to cell corridors, execution rooms, and watchtowers across several levels. Those interested in justice history should plan enough time to view all areas at a comfortable pace.
During the war, the Magna Carta and other national treasures were stored in the cellars while American soldiers served their sentences upstairs. The prison remained operational until 2013, making it one of the oldest continuously used detention facilities in Britain.
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