RESIDENTS from across Somerset were shocked to hear that a 400-year-old prison now open to the public would have to close its doors 'forever' in the New Year.

It was announced on November 28 that Shepton Mallet Prison would cease operations from Tuesday, January 2 2024 - but in a matter of weeks, it was decided that the tourist attraction would remain open after a public outcry.

I decided to take a guided tour of the historic Somerset site on Tuesday, January 2 - the last slot of the day, which would've been the last ever time the public were allowed inside its walls had the closure decision not been overturned.Somerset County Gazette: One of the cells inside the prison, which is apparently much bigger than a modern day cell.One of the cells inside the prison, which is apparently much bigger than a modern day cell. (Image: NQ Staff)

Many (myself included) do not realise how much fascinating local history lies inside those walls, and what I learned and discovered on the tour really put into perspective what a loss to Somerset the prison's closure would've been.

The tour guide, named Morris, was simply sensational, and clearly had a passion for the historical aspect of the reform system - which made sense, since he had worked in prisons for 33 years, and spent 16 of those in the riot squad.

As we stood facing a wall where three prisoners were shot with muskets during the second world war, Morris explained how I was standing atop the graves of seven men who had once been hanged for murder, and buried just inches below the concrete.Somerset County Gazette: A trapdoor on which prisoners sentenced to death stood upon before being hanged.A trapdoor on which prisoners sentenced to death stood upon before being hanged. (Image: NQ Staff)

Another aspect of the prison I was unaware of was the plague pit - where thousands of plague-ridden bodies were taken and buried.

Morris also told captivating tales of some of the prison's 50 escapes, and another fact which stood out to me was that a five-year-old prisoner was once imprisoned there for stealing an apple.

As we toured the historic walls, I learned what took place in each and every sector of the site; I got to step inside cramped Victorian solitary confinement cells, stand in the exercise yard where the Victorians forced their prisoners to walk anti-clockwise laps in hopes to 'turn back time' - I even visited a room above the original main entrance, which reportedly contains a ghost known to tug on your hair and stroke your face!Somerset County Gazette: The exercise yard in which the Victorians forced their prisoners to spend hours walking anti-clockwise around.The exercise yard in which the Victorians forced their prisoners to spend hours walking anti-clockwise around. (Image: NQ Staff)

After I'd been shown every wing of the prison, now saturated with chilling and harrowing facts about the Somerset site, I stopped to chat with Morris to get his thoughts on the decision to keep HMP Shepton Mallet open to the public.

"I'm over the moon that it's staying," he said.

Somerset County Gazette: The prison will remain open to the public for the foreseeable future.The prison will remain open to the public for the foreseeable future. (Image: NQ Staff)"We all are - you grow to love these places."

Morris found out his job was no longer in jeopardy just 30 minutes before the general public on December 21, 2023.

Had the prison closed, its 18 staff members would have been made redundant - not to mention the tragedy that would be the loss of this fascinating site embedded in Somerset and Shepton Mallet's heritage.