Shepton Mallet Prison Ghost Tour: A Chilling Review

You know, some places just give you the shivers the moment you set eyes on them. Shepton Mallet Prison, with its seriously imposing walls and rather grim history, it is almost certainly one of those places. And with reports of paranormal activity going way, way back, I thought I’d better see for myself and see if the guided ghost tour lived up to its spooky reputation.

First Impressions: Setting the Stage for Scares

The approach to the prison is, very, very atmospheric, even in broad daylight. But, at night, you know, under the cloak of darkness, it takes on an entirely different vibe, very much intensified. That solid stone architecture against the night sky just screams history and maybe a touch of despair, too, that, is almost certainly enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The staff outside were alright, friendly enough. You sort of got this impression that even they had stories, just maybe unspoken ones, very carefully guarded from the past, locked away inside the walls.

Right, so, as you gather with the rest of your tour group, there’s usually this sort of nervous anticipation hanging in the air, very, very thick you know. Strangers bonded together by a curiosity of, very chilling history and that sort of shared love for the supernatural. The guides set the scene pretty darn well, with the historical details of past executions, reports of inmates never leaving and the tales of paranormal investigations that’ve been going on for what seems like years and years. You almost get a proper taster of what to expect.

The Tour Experience: Through the Prison’s Veins

Once inside the prison, very honestly, the atmosphere noticeably changes. The air just seems to get colder, even in the summertime. Very possibly that might be due to the sheer size of the stone walls, the echoes carry and twist everything you say, every footstep and I am not joking at all, and I am a very skeptical person so I would take it with a pinch of salt but apparently you almost feel like you’re being watched or like someone is breathing down your neck.

Right, so, the tour generally winds its way through different sections of the prison. That is pretty common. You can walk down the eerie corridors, with rows of empty cells. The guides, in a way, they also share all stories tied to that spot – whether its apparitions, poltergeist activity or sounds seemingly unexplainable. Locations that were very popular during this time were solitary confinement cells, execution rooms and old hospital wings (and sometimes even old sports halls!). They really did send shivers down your spine! A lot of people swear they felt something tugging at their clothing, just as a whisper right by their ear and some shadows even appeared from nowhere. Who knows what it could be.

I am pretty certain that I’m a practical person and I wasn’t able to see any ghostly apparitions or I am pretty certain there was any paranormal events but I still experienced the heavy energy that’s in the halls of the prison. Its a feeling of all events and how everything comes together, a build up, from the suffering and it gives a sense of oppression to me.

EVP Sessions and Vigils: Hunting for Voices

Most tours are likely going to include an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) session as standard. So the tour guides set up audio recording gear in rooms reported to be of higher activity or events happening and we did ask questions to get any paranormal beings in a way, to talk and share a lot more with us so we would have information, even if it was voices from beyond. This is going to involve a lot of people participating in it so make sure to remember what you were doing and have an open mind. The tour guides did make us aware that not all EVP session would reveal an evidence, which I can get around for definite.

Also another part of the tour are vigils. Which is going to be quiet time spent at particular hot spots so, with the aim to catch a paranormal disturbance (but more physical one so that something is moving around!). Normally there is a seance around this section, which really gives me the willies (to make sure I am honest). People can get very moved, you know. During my visit, everyone gathered in the condemned man’s cell with the vigil for over 30 minutes. This gave an unsettling feeling but I will not say its real or just from a persons imagination!

Tour Guides: The Storytellers of the Strange

The tour guides make all the difference so they really provide all of the historical facts or stories so its told properly (to the best as we possibly could). You can feel the interest and dedication to these story tellers as they make this history of suffering and paranormal stuff into something you could remember in the years ahead!

Apparently when they gave some backstory that just added to the creepiness factor! Every single room will have a creepy ghost that’s bound to show themselves one day so its a matter of time, they tell everyone! Each of them are very mindful of not being a scare monger, which is something to appreciate. But at the same time, some people find their own way in to get creeped out at so I really like it!

Final Thoughts: Is the Shepton Mallet Ghost Tour Worth It?

Right, so, is it worth it? I think it is. The Shepton Mallet Prison Ghost Tour it is almost a guaranteed great time, whether you are a sceptic like me, very very serious about it or very serious about some history too. Even with what could possibly be your cynical eye (as me) with the lack of paranormal activity. So, at the end of the tour, very honestly, it all felt right being there, to be open minded, or to be scared of stories so it really helped everyone’s vibe. Overall it was actually brilliant. The way they gave context was nice.