Alan Payling continues with his look at excursions that are a bit out of the ordinary by suggesting that a visit inside would attract people with a morbid fascination for death row and gangsters
Who wants to go to jail?’ Probably not a lot of people. But if you asked them: ‘Who would like a quick look inside a prison?’ Well, my guess is that you would get a very different answer. The good news is that everyone can. Prospective passengers can now visit a prison having two options following the closure of Shepton Mallet and Shrewsbury. Even better news is that you could take them, hopefully, by the coach load.
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So why do I think visiting a prison might be a good seller for a day out or as part of a tour? When I was driving and guiding tours round the local moor, there was always a fascination with one feature of the day out – Dartmoor Prison. I always got lots of questions about the forbidding granite goal on the moor. The questions were usually of a more morbid nature. There was generally a question or two as to whether anyone had been hung there. Charming. But that morbid fascination with the drop could well help sell tickets to visit Shepton Mallet and Shrewbury goals as their death rows have been quite busy over the years.
Before I outline what is on offer for groups, as these are old prisons, there is a good bit of walking to do, about a mile, plus, there are some 200 stairs to negotiate. The tours are therefore unable to offer wheelchair access and where mobility is an issue, the tour may not be suitable. Therefore it may well appeal to those who are younger and more mobile.
Visiting times
There are two options available from Jailhouse Tours, the company that organises visits to the former prisons: Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset and Shrewsbury Prison in Shropshire. Given their locations, operators from a broad swathe of the country could offer excursions to these two prisons. Both are also former Victorian jails so the interiors will live up to most people’s expectations as to what a proper jail should look like. When passengers are looking around the prisons, they are free to wander round by themselves. However, both prisons offer guided two hour tours. The guides also wear their uniforms adding to the reality of the occasion. I was told that groups of up to 30 can be managed by a single guide.
Life, or death, inside
The well informed guides have many a gruesome tale to tell about conditions in the jail and what happened to those who were never released. Shrewsbury Prison also saw a number of hangings in the 1950’s, all four of which were presided over by the UK’s most famous hangman. If you get a bloodthirsty lot on your coach, this should absolutely delight them. During the tour, visitors can also experience being ‘banged up’ in a cell. There is also a museum room for passengers to visit. For day visits and tours, there are no catering facilities but Jailhouse Tours could arrange for an outside caterer to provide sustenance for your passengers. Having said that, Shepton Mallet does offer what they call: ‘The Prisoner Experience’, or an ‘18yrs+ sleepover’ to really give people a taste of life inside. That’s right, people are invited to pay to spend the night in a cell. No, I couldn’t believe it either. On entering the prison, ‘inmates’ are processed which includes having their fingerprints taken. Inmates have to take their own bedding so they can be comfortable(ish) when they spend the night in the prison enjoying the most basic form of bed and and breakfast going. And guess what they get for breakfast? That’s right. Porridge! Yes, really. Seriously, I am not making this up. And those visitors staying for a sleepover are also advised that they cannot take drugs into the prison – not totally realistic then! The prison is also open for night tours with a psychic: ‘The Lost Soul Tour.’ Ghost Tours and Night Tours are also on offer while hen and stag parties can also be catered for. So there is a lot of choice when it comes to the sort of groups that a prison visit would appeal to.
So if anyone offers a tour like this and takes their passengers directly to jail without passing GO!, my guess is that the operator might well collect more than £200 from the community chest! Just make sure though that the passengers have their get out of jail free card with them.
Contact – Jailhouse Tours
01743 343 100, [email protected]
www.jailhousetours.com
Group rates are available.
