visit dorchester prison

How Dorchester Prison became a dark tourist attraction and filming location for Luther and The Gold

Tours, ghost hunts and even airsoft takes place here

• 08:00, 25 FEB 2023

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A former prison which housed criminals, murderers and held public executions is now enjoying a lease of life as a filming location and dark tourist attraction. Dorchester Prison, which looms over Dorset’s county town, was built on the site of a medieval castle in the 19th century and saw criminals from across Dorset housed there for various minor and serious offences.

The site also saw multiple executions, with the prison also said to be the inspiration behind Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'urbevilles after witnessing the horrific death of Elizabeth Martha Brown in 1856. The small and tiring prison became overcrowded and was closed by the Government in 2014 as part of a wider plan to reform the prison system.

Nearly 10 years on from its closure, its doors are flung open for guided tours from former staff members, ghost hunts, airsoft events and the occasional filming from Netflix and BBC. Andy Stevens is the Director of Crackingday Ltd, which has helped facilitate such events and has sought to bring an alternative tourism experience in Dorchester.

READ MORE - Luther: The Fallen Sun - How you can visit prison where Idris Elba shot scenes for the film

New lease of life for old prison

Explaining the prison's alternative use, said: “We have a licence to use the prison for various activities in the prison. Airsoft is our key business and we do that twice a month on Sunday.

“Our core business allows us to do other interesting things and I think there is a little bit of a responsibility to offer the historical tours for schools, the public and historians.

“We work with Shire Hall to allow the people to see behind the walls and scenes. There is a lot of thought of the community as well and the council who we work quite closely with.”

Tours involve a former prison officer who will take curious visitors around the wings, visit the kitchen and chapel, share how prisoners lived and even his own experiences of working inside the prison. The sporadic ghost hunts even reveal the prison’s darkest moments, its public execution and retell stories of ghosts that are believed to lurk inside the prison’s wings.

Former prison used to film Netflix and BBC drama

Beyond the tourist events, the prison has become a filming location. Following in the footsteps of Gloucester Prison and Shepton Mallet Prison, production companies have approached Andy and his company to facilitate filming at the prison. Dorchester Prison has been used to double HMP Leicester in BBC drama The Gold in July last year, but also will appear on the big screen in Luther: The Fallen Sun.

The prison welcomes such high-budget productions as they spend money to renovate the site, but also offers a glimpse into what the prison previously looked like. Speaking about the Luther filming, Andy said: "We were approached as it is much easier to do up an old prison than to make a prison set Netflix came in and they were on site for a few weeks.

“They reckon that over £1 million was put into the local economy. They probably spent a couple of hundred thousand on painting and putting flooring in to make what they needed for the set.

“It is quite interesting to have a glimpse of what it would have looked like. It is nice that the building with so much troubled history is now being used for entertainment and it has changed its use and that will be part of the building’s history.”

Film crews for The Gold also carried out a number of changes to make the site double as HM Prison Leicester. Filming commenced in July 2022 and saw actors Hugh Bonneville, Adam Nagaitis, John Draycott, and Sophia La Porta the cast members filming inside the building.

No other film productions are scheduled to come to the prison, but Andy was willing to welcome any crews that wish to film their shows at Dorchester Prison. Despite acting royalty coming through his doors, Andy has not had a chance to meet them.

He quipped: “I missed Idris Elba because I had Covid. But I don’t usually get fazed by meeting famous people”. In the meantime, its usual events will continue alongside the community groups that use the prison’s facilities.

How former prison could be transformed into new homes

Ironically the prison itself is enjoying a stay of execution. City and Country purchased the site in 2014 and were successfully granted plans to redevelop the prison site into 190 homes and convert the gatehouse into a museum. Considering this is a site where people were executed and buried and also has Roman mosaics, this will not be a straightforward task.

Its redevelopment would likely take some time to happen and for now, Dorchester Prison will welcome film crews, famous actors, ghost hunters and curious tourists through its doors. Reflecting on Dorchester Prison’s future, Andy remarked: ”It will happen one day but not immediately. There is much more to consider and plan for and budget. It is not like buying a house and you do it up and flog it.

”It is costing hundreds of thousands to own and maintain the building and they (City and Country) are keen to crack on but it is not a DIY kitchen job, it is a large development.”

You can book tours via the company's website here or on their Facebook page .

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Dorchester Prison Guided Tour

An opportunity to explore the former HMP Dorchester with Eddie a former officer of the prison.

View the wings, kitchens and chapel, hear how the prisoners lived, Eddie will tell you all you need to know.

Tour lasts around 1 and a half hours.

Secure parking on site included.

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Dorchester Prison

History of dorchester prison.

It is hard to believe now, but public executions were for centuries one of the most popular forms of entertainment in England, and Dorchester, as an assize town, certainly witnessed its fair share. Maumbury Rings had been used as the site for public executions for centuries and was still in use up to 1767.  The present Dorchester Prison cost £18,000 to build and was completed in 1795. It was built on the site of the old medieval castle built in 1154 but disused from about 1290. The previous gaol was situated in High East Street. Prisoners were segregated by their sex and the type of conviction. The prison buildings are of a typical Victorian design with wings radiating from a central hub with galleried landings.

The National Archive holds prison records from 1782 to 1994.

Last Hanging at Dorchester

Elizabeth Martha Brown a grocer aged 45 and mother of two was the last woman to be hanged in public in Dorset and was executed outside Dorchester Prison in 1856. She was convicted of the murder of her second husband, John Brown, on July 22, the prosecution said she had attacked him with an axe after he had taken a whip to her.

Thomas Hardy, a young lad of 16 years and who later went on to become a world famous writer and poet was among the crowd of 3,000 or so who witnessed the hanging of Elizabeth Martha Brown. He wrote 70 years later that he was ashamed to have been there and the hanging of Tess in Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) is undoubtedly inspired by his experience of watching Brown’s death.

James Seale was the last person to be hung at the gates of Dorchester prison on 10th August 1858. He was tried and found guilty of murder and his name went into the history books as the last man to be hanged in public in Dorset. The Victorian age could no longer tolerate public executions as entertainment.

The Prison Today

Dorchester prison is operated by Her Majesty’s Prison Service serving the Crown and Magistrates’ courts in Dorset and some in Somerset.

The prison receives adult males and young adult male prisoners direct from the Crown Courts at Dorchester, Poole and Bournemouth and associated magistrates’ courts. The Prison operates as a Level 4 establishment and the population is made up of roughly half convicted prisoners, and half remanded inmates. Whilst there prisoners can participate in new skills courses such as catering and industrial cleaning whilst the physical education department offers recognised qualifications for a variety of health and training programmes.

Improvements were made following the 2007 inspection report from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons which had stated there were too many inmates, and too little investment in the prison buildings and facilities.  Conditions improved to an extent, and the prison which has a capacity for 252 was awarded ‘Most Improved Prison for 2008′.

HM Dorchester Prison – Future under threat

Government cutbacks may threaten the future of Dorchester Prison, and BBC News for Dorset revealed in July that a confidential government report suggests the Prison may be closed down and a new facility built in south Dorset. Dorchester mayor and Dorchester North councillor Leslie Phillips said: “It is a big part of Dorchester, which is why I am finding it hard to believe they would consider closing it. The Ministry of Justice has said: “No decision has been made about prison closures.

When you are next in Dorchester, why not take the ‘ Discover Dorchester walk route ’ where the walls of the prison can be viewed from the riverside path next to the River Frome.

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Ancestors of John Scadding who was hanged at Dorchester prison in 1797 have heard that the prison site is going to be developed for housing. There are the bones of 50 or so people who were hanged buried in the grounds. Are there any arrangements being made for these bones to be dug up and reburied in a suitable place? I would be interested in any information you have about this matter and the names of people who may be able to help. Thank you Donna Clark

I am a prison officer, who worked at HMP Dorchester until it was closed, and I now work at another establishment. Having carried out some research on the prisons in Dorchester I believe that there are only five burials within the walls of the current establishment. As I understand it, if the area is going to be redeveloped, then the bodies must be reburied away from the site. I am not sure, however, if it still needs to be ‘unconsecrated ground’. I hope this helps… I do a talk about the prisons in Dorchester, if you would like moreinformation.

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Unexplored Dorset: HM Prison Dorchester

In 1885 HM Prison Dorchester was built on the site of an older prison (1796-1880), which in turn was built on the site of a castle dating back to 1154. It was a standard Victorian design and consisted of two main wings radiating from a central hub with galleried landings, providing space for around 300 prisoners.

History of Dorchester Prison

Before its closure in January 2014, it had a turbulent recent history- in 2006 25% of random drug tests came back positive, mostly for cannabis but also for heroin. In 2007 overcrowding and a lack of investment in buildings and facilities led to the Prison Reform Trust stating that prison staff were “battling against overwhelming odds in old and overcrowded premises.” The report also criticised the lack of work opportunities for inmates. Conditions did however improve, with Dorchester being awarded “Most improved Prision” in 2008. This was as a result of the £41 million spent on it in the 12 years prior to its closure, including new healthcare facilities that opened just six months before its closure.

In the run up to its closure HM Prison Dorchester held adult and young adult males, around half convicted prisoners and half remanded inmates. Further back in its history it held both men and women, and there was a debtors wing. Executions also took place in the grounds. It is believed Martha Brown, the last woman to be hanged in Dorset, is among former inmates buried in the prison. Her execution was witnessed by Thomas Hardy and inspired his novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles.

In 2019, as part of development plans for the site, permission was granted to exhume the bodies that remain. Other former inmates that remain buried at the site include the murderer David Jennings, who was the last person to be buried in the yard after he was executed in the yard in 1941. The last public execution was in 1858; James Seale was tried and found guilty of murder. All later execututions at the prison were behind closed doors.

Current Use & Future of Dorchester Prison

The prison site was sold to development company City and Country in 2014 who have plans to convert the site into 200 homes, but they do intend to preserve the Gatehouse as a museum. Progress on this seems to have stalled, but in the meantime the prison has seen a number of uses including community events and fitness classes, airsoft, tours, and it has been a filming location for series inlcuding Most Haunted , Luther and The Gold . The tours are guided by an ex-prison officer, but you have a lot of freedom to roam around on your own, making them a great way to see the inside of this abandoned prison.

Exploration of Dorchester Prison

We joined an evening tour of the prison, which was conducted in the dark, adding to the atmosphere of exploring the vast abanadoned and decaying site. Though the prison still sees use, as menioned above; large parts of it are only used for tours and airsoft games, meaning large sections have not been maintained. This made exploring the prison feel more authentic and closer to an “Urbex” experience than you would expect from paying to jon a guided tour!

To start with we circumnavigated the red brick Victorian buildings, inside the immense boundary walls within the prison yard, surrounded by barbed wire. We circled the site, heading into the exercise yard where prisoners could experience the outside world for an hour a day. Prisoners walked anti-clockwise in the exercise yard, as the Victorians believed that this helped turn back the time on their crimes. Our ex-prison guard guide gave an insight in to prison life, and detailed how red tape had impacted the prison service, with outsourcing of maintenance work both slowing down and increasing the cost of basic repairs and maintenance.

Inside the prison was a mix of Victorian architechture with semi-modern additions- the closest thing I could relate it to on the outside world would be a Victorian school. The air was dank and cold inside, moisture from condensation dripped from the walls and ceilings. Though the building was no longer maintained or heated, apparently conditions were not much more pleasant when the buildings were in use- prisoners often complained about the cold conditions.

Walking through corridors, passing offices, interview rooms and the canteen, we eventually reached the impressive central hub of the prison, Every level of walkway, lined with metal bars, could be seen from this point. Heading up the stairs, metal clanging and echoing beneath our feet, we made our way into the small musty cells. One still had newspaper clippings pasted to the wall by a previous inmate. Crossing the gangway and peeking into a few more cells, we made our way to the chapel. This was the only room of the prison that was carpeted, a small amount of light glinted through the stained glass window, illuminating the room. The chapel was used for meetings as well as its religious purpose, and was where staff were told the prison was closing nearly 10 years ago.

Last Updated on 22 March 2023 by Michael

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Dorchester Penitentiary

Table of Contents

The Dorchester Penitentiary has a long and colorful history as part of Canada’s federal prison system. Originally built as a maximum security facility in 1880, it has gone through many changes over the decades.

Early Years

The prison first opened on July 14, 1880 on a hill overlooking the Memramcook River valley near Dorchester, New Brunswick. In the early years, Dorchester housed some of Canada’s most dangerous and notorious criminals .

Infamous inmates included Nazi SS officer Kurt Meyer convicted of war crimes, judge David Ramsay imprisoned for sexual abuse of minors, and cult leader Roch Thériault . The remote location and harsh conditions inside its stone walls gave Dorchester a fearsome reputation.

Downgrades and Changes

After World War II, Dorchester was eventually replaced as Atlantic Canada’s maximum security prison. The facility was downgraded to medium security status to house less violent offenders.

Today, Dorchester handles many protective custody cases and inmates needing psychiatric observation. It also provides essential services to other prisons in the Atlantic region.

Inside the aging cell blocks, inmates have access to rehabilitative programs to develop skills and control addictions. They can work jobs maintaining the facilities or farms to have a small income.

Still, privileges are limited and controlled. The rural setting and perimeter fences maintain separation from nearby villages, symbolizing the loss of freedom.

Controversies

Being one of Canada’s oldest functioning prisons, Dorchester suffers from overcrowded conditions despite expansion projects. There are also periodic incidents caused by rival gangs and smuggled contraband.

While many see Dorchester as outdated, it remains a critical cog in the federal corrections system. Balancing punishment and rehabilitation has always been the challenge within its storied gates.

What does the future hold for this living relic? The need for criminal justice reform may dictate changes at Dorchester, but it retains an enduring role and legend in the region’s history.

For over 140 years, the Dorchester Penitentiary has confined some of Canada’s most notorious criminals within its aging walls. From its early notoriety to current efforts at rehabilitation, Dorchester has adapted to serve the federal prison system. But major questions remain about its viability and purpose in a modern age. The iconic prison remains both an artifact of history and a symbol of society’s response to crime through punishment instead of prevention.

What security level is Dorchester today?

Dorchester is now classified as a medium security federal prison.

Does Dorchester still house maximum security inmates?

No, today its population is medium security offenders. Other facilities have taken over housing maximum security prisoners.

What kinds of programs are available to inmates?

Inmates can take part in skills building, addictions treatment, counseling, and other rehabilitation programs to prepare for potential release.

How large is the inmate population?

Dorchester currently houses close to 400 inmates, which is near its stated capacity. But overcrowding has been an issue at various points.

When will Dorchester Penitentiary close?

There are no definitive plans to close Dorchester. Its future likely depends on changes to Canada’s sentencing laws and prison population rates in coming years.

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Explore by location, explore further, hm prison dorchester, dorset.

The Daily Mail would have you believe that the country’s prisoners are sat in five-star accommodation with flat-screen TV’s and a Playstation in every room. There’s not much evidence of that in Dorchester prison. It is grim. Pure Victorian detention in all it’s glory – and it’s wonderful!

It’s hard to believe that such a bleak, harsh building could be turned in to 189 homes. But that’s exactly what developers City & Country plan to do. The blueprints look promising & the inclusion of a museum is a nice touch. The site is of important historical & archaeological significance and was also the location of the last public hanging in Dorset. City & Country’s track record with this type of building is thankfully a good one.

Walking up to the main entrance, it’s tall & imposing, and as you go up the stairs there’s quite a condescending motto aimed at anyone about to spend time at her majesty’s pleasure… “Holding the key to a brighter future” – I suspect raised eyebrows from many inmates!

HM Prison Dorchester has two main wings and with room for less than 300 prisoners, at the time of closure in 2013 half were convicted prisoners, and half remanded inmates. Before the doors closed for the final time in 2013, Dorchester prison had a bit of a rollercoaster last few years. 2008 saw the prison labelled “the most improved prison” after suffering with serious drug problems & over-crowding.

The tiny cells are a real eye-opener. And my description of grim is all too true. Damp & blackspot litter the cold, stone block walls, the only heating source is a pipe running down one side of the cell. The metal framed bunk-beds have an air of torture about their features, and in the corner, a stainless steel toilet with nothing but a curtain to divide you from your cellmate. A brief, comical moment of panic sets in as we shut the cell door behind us only to find the all the handles removed, an all too real-to-life experience! The whole wing feels very claustrophobic, with cages all around you and just enough room for one person on the walkways.

A lot of the prison is locked down (unsurprisingly) and difficult to explore fully but as we moved to the outside we noticed a stained glass cross on a higher level. Heading back in we found the chapel, modern in contrast to the interior of other rooms in the prison.

After taking one last walk around the wings to make sure we hadn’t missed anything, we made our way out. A walk that inmates of Dorchester prison would have enjoyed, I’m sure!

Important, noteworthy & interesting comments are highlighted below

I was there a few times early 2000’s, and these photos bring back memories. I would like to go if it is still possible and see if some old graffiti is still there and to just remember how far I have come.

There’s actually a few tours coming up. A company that does tours at Gloucester prison has started at Dorchester; https://www.gloucester-prison.co.uk/ourshop/cat_1742373-Dorchester-Prison.html

Hi. Thought you might like an update on the Dorchester Prison tours situation. If your readers go to: http://www.dorchester-prison.co.uk and follow the links, dates are up for the next two months. This will also link through to the tickets page.

Good afternoon Ed,

We just wanted to say a big thank you for today. I am the lady on first tour 12 noon 1st April 23 ( who wore the b/w hat and told you I needed to find the toilet at end of your talk, we talked about Luther film and I said I loved historical buildings. Ian and I thought it was a brilliant place to visit and you made the tour fun and informative. I hope your throat feels better after today. Thank you again

UCAP Airsoft have got the site at the moment. Great day airsofting in this eerie prison.

We went here and couldn’t get in how do we do it?

Any luck since?

I have been in Dorch many times and actually won 2 cups for the Chess and Draughts comp – Sad to see it shut but it’s kept me out of trouble closing! Isn’t that Right Mr Churchill ?

Was in Dorchester 2009 to 2010, it was a good nick, the food was shit though, and it was freezing in there I spent my time sitting on the hot pipe, shame they closed it. It only held around 250 prisoners, met up with some nice people in there.

I spent 4 months, and Christmas there, from October ’62 to January ’63. I was a first timer and they called a first timer a star. I worked with about 8 other stars on an outside farm for the first 2 months. Around Christmas it snowed very heavily and we got snowed in. The last 2 months I spent cleaning up and polishing the bright work on the front gate, as well as making tea for the officer on duty there. Dorchester was known as a ‘cushy nick’ and I look back at that time with fond memories.

This was a great prison (sounds strange I know) but it was. I’ve had a few small sentences here on all wings except D wing obviously. Sad that it shut down.

Despite doing regular (appears to be fortnightly tours) on the Dorchester and Gloucester Prisons website there might to another opportunity to visit parts(?) of the prison for FREE. According to the Dorchester Prison Facebook page there are going to be monthly Farmer’s Markets with the first on Saturday 20th May 2023. I suspect the gym building (as a covered open space) might be what is utilised? Even so there should be opportunities to photograph within the perimeter walls.

Just as an update, the developers appear to have pulled out from converting the prison into flats. There is now a company (Haunted Cells) that has access to it and I went on one of their ‘ghost hunts’ there this Saturday night just gone. It was interesting to see inside the empty building as I live locally. For obvious reasons it was very dark a lot of the time which was very creepy and it’s not a history tour so don’t be disappointed if the hosts can’t answer any questions!

Sadly, I didn’t see the area outside that was mentioned previously with the gravestones of buried prisoners and wonder if these have already been removed?

Just for info there are more ‘Ghost Hunts’ planned for the immediate future

It’s an interest fact that ghosts only come out at night. Haha! A load of old codswallop, but a good way to see inside an important historic building in the town.

Ghosts only come out at night is because that is the time when people’s imagination is at it’s peak.

Really like to visit if they have tours would be great. Any info be much appreciated.

I was never told or saw any gravestones there but I only had access to one exercise yard.

I played Airsoft there the other day and it was awesome. You can pretty much go everywhere and do anything. The best part was hiding in the boiler room which was pitch black.

Are the organisers requiring the use of biodegradable BB’s?

I was in Dorchester on quite a few occasions back in the 1960s and early 70s. Moved to Bournemouth from Liverpool in ’65. Caused mayhem at the prison when I threw talcum powder over the screws who had gathered on the centre waiting to go off duty. Did you know that at that time there was a small grassy area next to exercise yard which was where they buried hanged people… It actually had the grave stone for a donkey there too.

They put me in the mailbag shop after I attempted to escape. Any one remember Mr Honey the governor? Or Mr Smallbone?

I would love to talk to you about your time in there if possible would be a huge thing for me. Thank you in advance.

Hi Robbie, do you remember officer Ken Heath?

I once worked in the Portland Borstal as it was called back then and one of the boys asked me where I came from and I told him Dorchester and he said “Oh, I know Dorchester they got a nice little nick up there.”

First was in there when they had a YOI wing which later was for the nonces. Been on a wing for remand & B wing for convicted prisoners & drug free landing was my second home. True story

When were you in there, on B wing?

My former husband was in there, on B wing, way back in late 1988/89, anyone remember a Timothy Balcombe?

Hi, the early 90s onwards from Bournemouth where was your husband from? Last time I was in there they sent me to HMS Weare aka the boat didn’t get a sea view though.

I remember singing in the chapel in there

Was Mad Frankie Fraser ever in Dorchester prison?

Hi can you get in or has it been knocked down? Thank you

Frank was never in Dorchester.

Yes, but he was never allowed on normal location, only down the block. Every morning the governor doing his rounds would ask him if he was ok, any complaints, that type of thing. All he got back was fuck off. Frazier wanted go on the wings but there was no way. He deffo was there.

Will miss that old place. 1985 onwards

Was John Cannan in there?

How do you get in? Do you need permission and is there an address? :)

I remember being shown the hanging cell/room when I was having a short “break” there. The beam was still in place although everything else was gone the marks on the wall of the old platform/stairs etc. were visible. Didn’t know the old place was coming down would have loved to see it again for old times sake. Strangely enough I have some decent memories from there!

How do I go about contacting someone to visit? Myself and my friend would love to be able to film our college documentary here.

I’d like to do music video over there. What I need to do?

Is it possible to book a tour for a local group (about 15 people)? Is there a charge?

Is it open to public?

Is this place scary because I am very scared after reading this.

I would love to go and visit think they should open for people to have a look before it goes for development.

Is there any day time tours? Or open to the public that walk around the prison?

I am a designer that will be working on this project. I love my job, it allows me to see such places.

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Thomas Steckler and I am currently at university in the process of planning a Photo-Journalism based documentary for our course. Our main idea for our documentary will be based on Abandoned Locations with the viewing platform of VR and we are hoping to be able to film in HM Prison as one of our possible locations.

We are looking towards people to interview as part of the documentary to share more insight into the location’s past, why it was abandoned, what you found while designing it etc. Is there any possibility you’d be willing to help us with this whether it’s through a written interview or more preferably a recorded message for us or depending on location if we could film an interview with you. My email address is:

[email protected]

We look forward to hearing back from you.

Kind regards, Tom

I like dis.

Is this safe? Anyone here? Any drugs or weapons?

Said to have a figure in motorcycling gear that would appear by the fireplace thought to be Laurence of Arabia who used to frequent the pub.

Thanks for this great article.

Do you know how to contact the owners, as I’m interested in making a student documentary there?

Daz I was in Dorchester prison in 2009 it was a right shithole full of dick heads

Great insights and photos that evoke my memories of SW prisons… Decency and dignity delivered by staff in challenging conditions. Inside is by no means an easy option.

I had the pleasure of visiting at the official closing ceremony. We had a tour and was shown all the supposedly haunted spots. Fascinating place. We were lucky as there were no areas off limits and after the official tour, we got to explore at our leisure. Spooky place… not sure I would want to live there!

Hi my husband spent a lot of years at the prison when the only toilet was a bucket. Shame to close down x

Dear Julie,

We are looking towards people to interview as part of the documentary to share more insight into the location’s past, why it was abandoned, what experiences people had there etc. Is there any possibility your husband would be willing to help us with this whether it’s through a written interview or more preferably a recorded message for us or depending on location if we could film an interview with you. My email address is:

Is there a way in looks like a great place to go but is there any cameras or someone watching the place.

It’s completely off-limits to the public & well secured. There’s full time security & an on-site caretaker. I was given special access to the prison along with members of the museum.

Hi, can anyone now visit Dorchester prison? Is it open to visitors? My partner is his younger days spent a lot of time in there, and would like to have a look around. Thanks x

Sadly not. I was given permission to explore the prison along with members of the museum etc. before it’s redeveloped.

Is there a way to book a tour online, I’m looking to go with a friend pretty soon and I don’t want to show up unannounced only to be turned away because I didn’t book a tour in advance. Also is there a fee for the tour?

Not that I’m aware of I’m afraid. You can try to contact City & Country, but their focus is on planning & developing the site not public tours. I would keep an eye/ear out for the public consultations in the local paper. I’m unaware of any future ones as there have already been two (one quite recently). If I hear of anything I’ll update this page with the information.

Dear Sarah,

We are looking towards people to interview as part of the documentary to share more insight into the location’s past, why it was abandoned, what experiences people had there etc. Is there any possibility your partner would be willing to help us with this whether it’s through a written interview or more preferably a recorded message for us or depending on location if we could film an interview with you. My email address is:

I had 2 tours there 99/2001. Loved every moment it’s a part of my life I will not forget I now live in N.Ireland

Great new feed mate, love the account of history too, you’ve got some great piccies here.

As usual… interesting commentary and beautiful photography. Thank you!

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16 Best Prison Museums To Visit in the UK

Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Louise

In the UK, there are numerous prison museums. These historical tourist attractions explore the darker side of the UK’s history.

Most were converted from former prisons to museums quite recently. Many offer guided tours.

Discover how criminals were punished for their crimes in the past. Hear tales of inmates who were unjustly imprisoned. Learn about the daily life of prisoners. Find out what they ate, how they exercised and the conditions in which they lived. Listen to stories of how criminals were executed and see where it happened.

As well as guided tours, many prison museums offer other events such as paranormal investigations and airsoft games.

Read on to discover the top prison museums in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island.

Table of Contents

Shrewsbury Prison

The first prison building on the site in Shrewsbury was opened to prisoners in 1793. There were 204 cells (179 for men and 25 for women). Many public executions took place here.

The first execution at the new gaol took place on Saturday, the 15th of August 1795, when John Smith, aged 25, was hanged for stealing 10 cotton handkerchiefs in the shop of John Miner. The last public hanging was of 30 year old Edward Cooper who was executed for murder in 1863. From 1902 and to 1961, there were 8 executions that took place inside the prison.

The prison still standing housed 330 men and 22 women across two wings. The last prisoners vacated the prison in 2013

Today you can embark on a guided tour with a former prison officer. Hear tales of the crimes committed by the inmates and daily life inside the prison.

See the processing areas where prisoners arrived, step into the exercise yard and experience the execution room.

Book Your Visit online at Shrewsbury Prison .

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

Bodmin Jail was built in 1779. The history of the prison is gruesome, overseeing over 55 public hangings, 8 of them women for crimes which included murder, rape and stealing.

It was the first prison to hold prisoners in individual cells. The last male prisoner left the prison in 1916 and it was officially closed in 1927.

Bodmin Jail has undergone a major refurbishment with part of it being turned into a hotel. If you’ve visited in the past, it may be time to go back.

Gloucester Prison

Gloucester Prison opened in 1791.

It has a fascinating if gruesome history, over 123 people were executed there.

In the modern era, HMP Gloucester was classified as a Category B adult male local prison and young offenders institution. It was intended to hold mainly those on remand or newly sentenced and waiting to be sent to another prison.

It was closed in 2013 due to overcrowding.

A guided tour is highly recommended. Learn about the daily life of the prisoners and be informed about the technical aspects of hanging. Gruesome stuff. There are 3 daily tour times. The 5.30pm tour isn’t recommended for kids under 14, so make sure you choose the right one.

Today there are many other regular events that you can go to there. They include a paranormal investigation with haunted happenings event and airsoft games!

Oxford Castle and Prison

Oxford Castle and Prison is over 1000 years old. It was built after the Norman invasion in 1066 by Norman baron Robert O’Doyly.

Over time the Castle transformed from castle to a prison. It closed its doors to prisoners in 1996 and is now a tourist attraction.

To get the best out of a visit to Oxford castle and prison, book a guided tour. A costumed guide shows you around the prison.

See the prisoner cells, hear tales of the prisoners and discover how a prison worked for children in bygone times.

Enjoy the thrill of the 100 stair climb up a winding staircase to the top of the tower, where the views are excellent.

Shepton Mallet Prison, Somerset

Shepton Mallet Prison was built in 1625 and closed in 2013. In the early years, prison conditions were grim. Men, women and children were housed together. They weren’t separated by seriousness of their crime. Gaolers weren’t paid. They earned money doing things like selling alcohol to inmates. Promiscuous and drunken behaviour were common. Outbreaks of diseases and fever occurred regularly.

The Victorian era led to different types of punishment such as hard labour and separating and silencing prisoners. Seven executions took place here between 1889 and 1926. The bodies were buried in the prison grounds where they remain today.

In World War 2 the prison became a British Military Prison and was then taken over by the US army. Hundreds of US servicemen were imprisoned here. 18 US soldiers were killed either by firing squad or hanging during this time.

After the war, the prison one again held civilians. At one time the Krays were held here. It finally closed its doors on 18th March 2013.

Clink Prison Museum

The Clink Prison dates back to 1144 making it one of England’s oldest and most notorious prisons. It held prisoners for over 500 years. In 1780 it was burned down in a riot and was never rebuilt.

The museum today is built on the original site. Just one wall remains from the original prison.

The museum is on the gory side and is a great way to bring history to life.

See the torture devices and read the information boards with more in-depth details. View archaeological artefacts, experience the sights, sounds and smells of the prison and hear stories of torment and misfortune of the inmates.

It is a quick attraction to visit. Allow at least an hour, but you might get around even quicker.

Dartmoor Prison Museum

Dartmoor Prison has been a prison for over 200 years.

It has a fascinating history. It’s first prisoners in 1809 were prisoners of war from the Napoleonic War.

In Victorian times, it housed criminals of some of the worst crimes.

One of the most famous prisoners at Dartmoor was Frank Mitchell (the ‘Mad Axeman’). He escaped but was never recaptured. It last transpired he was murdered by the Krays.

Today Dartmoor is still a prison. It holds low category prisoners who live in single cells. The aim is to reform the prisoners and they are encouraged to go on training courses to help them on release.

The museum itself is small but packed with well curated exhibits and information. To get the most out of your visit reading the information is required. There are some fascinating things to see including prisoner contraband and weapons.

Lancaster Castle

Lancaster Castle dates back to Roman times and has served many functions. It was originally a medieval fortress but over the years the castle has also welcomed numerous Royal visitors and served as a hub of justice with courtrooms, dungeons and a prison.

The castle has been a prison in one capacity or another from the 12th century until 21st Century. HMP Lancaster, a Category C prison was operational right up until March 2011.

Visitors can explore the castle’s extensive grounds and visit the former prison cells. It’s worth taking a guided tour to make the most of your visit. Guided tours of the Castle include visits to its 18th century cells, Pentonville-style male penitentiary, dedicated debtors’ prison area and female penitentiary

The castle and prison has a grim but fascinating history. One notable aspect is Lancaster Castle’s association with the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. The trials involved the persecution and execution of several individuals accused of witchcraft in the nearby Pendle Hill area. The accused were held in Lancaster Castle before and during their trials, and ten of them were ultimately found guilty and sentenced to death.

It was also the first prison to segregate inmates by age and gender.

At the time of writing (May 2023) part of the castle is closed to visitors due to updating a fire alarm system. However, Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings.

Find out more at Lancaster Castle .

Inveraray Jail, Argyle, Scotland

A visit to Inveray Jail is a great family day out. The building houses both a courtroom and a jail

Travel back into the 1800s. Hear stories of men, women and children who were tried and served sentences there.  Some of the children were as young as 7. Learn about how grim conditions were and find out the punishments they faced.

The history is fascinating. The details such as the prisoner names, numbers, ages and dates of the stories really bring the inmates to life.

Costumed jail officers walk around and you can ask them questions about what life was like

The National Justice Museum, Nottingham

The National Justice Museum shows the history of crime and punishment from medieval times up to the modern day  At one time, it was a one stop shop for criminals. It acted as a Victorian police station, gaol, courtroom and execution site. There are many real prison cells to see that span a long period of history.

Public executions were held on the front steps of the building. Richard Parker was the last person to be executed on the front steps. His crime was murdering his parents after a drunken row.

Today you can book online and visit the museum’s original courtrooms, prison cells and dungeon.

Exhibits include prisoner and prisoner office uniforms throughut the 20th century. Also see objects such as the balustrade from Strangeways prison during the 1990 riot.

Ruthin Gaol, Wales

Ruthin Gaol was closed in 1916. There has been a gaol on the site since the end of the 1700s. It was small but grew from having just 4 cells to being able to hold 37 inmates in 1837. By the end of the 1800s a new four story building was in place that held over 100 prisoners.

One execution took place here. William Hughes was hanged for murdering his wife in 1903.

A famous escapee was John Jones, known as Coch Bach y Bala. He escaped twice. Once by climbing out of a window using a rope made of bedsheets! He was recaptured both times.

Today you can visit Ruthin Gaol. Discover what life was like for prisoners. Learn about their daily routines, what they ate, how they worked and the punishments they suffered (sometimes for stealing an apple!) Visit the condemned cell. Experience the ‘smells’. Hear the tales of its most colourful prisoners.

Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, Northern Ireland

The first 106 inmates of Crumlin Road Gaol , were forced to walk from Carrickfergus Prison in chains in 1846. These inmates, were men, women and children. Children from poor families were often imprisoned for offences such as stealing food. Sadly, thirteen-year-old Patrick Magee, who had been sentenced to three months, hanged himself in his cell in 1858.

Public executions were carried out here until 1901. The last hangings took place in 1961.

Some well known prisoners included Éamon de Valera, Martin McGuinness, Michael Stone and Bobby Sands. Two prisoners were killed in 1991 when a IRA bomb went off in one of the wings.

The gaol closed its doors as a prison in 1996.

Dorchester Prison

Dorchester Prison was built in 1795.

The last public hanging that took place outside Dorchester prison was of Elizabeth Martha Brown a grocer aged 45 and mother of 2. She was convicted of the murder of her husband John Brown. She was said to have attacked him with an axe after he took a whip to her. The execution was said to have been witnessed by the writer, Thomas Hardy, who was 16 at the time. He later wrote 70 years later that he was ashamed to have been there.

Later Dorchester prison incarcerated only men. The prison was closed in 2013.

Today, you can go on a guided tour lead by a former prisoner officer, Eddie.

Peterhead Prison Museum, Scotland

Peterhead Prison operated between 1888 and 2013. It was designed to hold 208 prisoners who were sentenced to hard labour. In reality numbers averaged more than 350 with a peak of 455 in 1911.

Known as Scotland’s toughest jail, Peterhead Prison had a history of poor conditions for prisoners.

In 1987, there was a hostage situation where an officer was held on the roof for 4 days. The SAS were called in to end the siege.

The Tower of London

Although not it’s primary use, The Tower of London served as a prison throughout most of it’s fascinating history with some very famous inmates.

Its use as a prison began in the 1100s, during the reign of King Henry I and continued until as recently as the mid 20th century.

During the medieval period, the Tower of London was primarily used to imprison high-profile individuals, such as nobles, members of the royal family, and religious figures. Many of these prisoners were held for political reasons, such as treason or plotting against the monarchy. The Tower was also used to hold prisoners of war.

One of the most famous prisoners of the Tower was Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. She was accused of adultery, treason, and incest and was held at the Tower before her execution in 1536. Other notable prisoners included Sir Thomas More, Queen Elizabeth I before she became queen, and Guy Fawkes, who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Prisoners were held in various parts of the Tower, including the Bloody Tower, the Wakefield Tower, and the Beauchamp Tower. Some were held in relatively comfortable conditions, while others were subjected to harsh treatment, torture, and execution.

The Tower of London was still being used as a prison in the early part of the 20th century. Inmates during this time included Nazi criminals Rudolph Heiss and Josef Jacobs (the last person to be executed at the Tower). In 1952, the Kray twins were also imprisoned at the Tower for a few days. 

The Victorian Prison in Lincoln Castle

If you visit Lincoln Castle, there is Victorian prison inside. The prison has a fascinating history.

Men, women and children as young as eight were held here from 1848 to 1878 for crimes ranging from stealing a waistcoat and Bible, to highway robbery and murder. There were 7 hangings of murderers here. Their bodies were buried in the Lucy Tower where they remain til this day.

Many of the prisoners were segregated from other prisoners to help them reflect on their actions and reform their behaviour.

A visit here is very interactive. Dress up as a prisoner or member of staff. Explore the cells. Imagine the solitude of the single cell, the chaos of the crowded cell, and the desperation of the dark cell.

Find out more at Lincoln Castle

Littledean Jail

Littledean Jail is a former prison located in the village of Littledean, Gloucestershire. Built in 1791, its was originally a debtors’ prison. Later, it became a house of correction and a police station.

Conditions within the prison were often harsh and overcrowded, with little regard for the welfare of the inmates.

In 1968, Littledean Jail was closed as a prison and subsequently fell into disrepair. However, in the 1980s, the jail was converted into a museum and tourist attraction, with exhibitions featuring the history of crime and punishment in England. Today it’s more of a crime museum than a prison.

The museum is known for its collection of curiosities, including taxidermy animals, shrunken heads, and other oddities. Some of the exhibits focus on dark and unsettling topics such as Fred and Rose West, Witchfinders, Satanism, the SS and the Holocaust, Myra Hindley and the KKK. As you can see the exhibits are controversial, with some visitors expressing concern over the ethics of some of the displays. More light-hearted displays include the Quadrophenia exhibition, Princess Diana letters and the heroics of the SAS.

It’s certainly not a museum for everybody (definitely not for myself). However if you’re interested in crime and dark history, it could be worth a visit. Check out the website and read reviews of this one before you visit to see if it’s for you.

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13 PRISON MUSEUMS YOU CAN VISIT IN THE UK

Want to explore the darker side of social history? These 13 old prisons in the UK have opened their doors to visitors and put their grisly pasts on display. You can learn about the most notorious of criminals, the wrongfully imprisoned, the executed and the terrible conditions many of them lived and died in. Several of these prisons offer events such as ghost tours or even sleepovers in the cells. Read on to find out more.

Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Devon

Photograph © Brian Henley

One of England's most famous prisons, Dartmoor has been a prison for over 200 years, situated on the windswept and foggy moors.

It was built to hold prisoners of the Napoleonic War, who started arriving in 1809. By 1813 they were joined by American prisoners, and the prison soon became overcrowded, leading to outbreaks of contagious diseases and thousands of deaths. In the Victorian Era it held convicts who were considered the worst criminals in the land, although it now houses only Category C prisoners - those who are preparing for release.

The prison museum is not your typical modern museum with stark lighting, gleaming surfaces and sterile out-of-context exhibits. It is a quirky, slightly ramshackle place which makes it all the more appealing. Exhibits include objects made by the prisoners out of bone, prisoner and guard uniforms, cells, items with secret compartments for keeping contraband hidden, handmade weapons such as knuckle dusters, shivs and shanks made from toothbrushes.

It is fascinating in a rather dark way and the fact that there is a sign informing visitors that the museum is sometimes staffed by prisoners, adds an extra frisson of interest to the whole experience.

Dartmoor Prison Museum website >>

Shepton Mallet Prison, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

Shepton Mallet was built in 1610 when it was decided that the eastern part of Somerset should have their own House of Correction.

Men, women and children were all housed together for a variety of crimes, whether debtors, vagrants or just mentally unwell. Conditions were bad, with regular outbreaks of fever, jaundice, venereal diseases and many more unpleasant illnesses, with the bodies buried in unconsecrated ground just outside the prison.

Many executions were carried out in the prison whether by firing squad or hanging. Executioners included the famous Albert Pierrepoint, who executed about 600 people during his career. For World War II, the prison was used by the British and the American military, as well as safe storage for the National Archives from London, including the Magna Carta and the Domesday Book. The Kray Twins were held here in the 1950s after absconding from their national service.

The museum closed in 2013 and is now a tourist attraction, hosting not just sight seeing tours, but also ghost tours after hours, an escape room, and even the opportunity to spend the night behind bars, with free rein to explore the place at night.

Read about my Night Behind Bars at Shepton Mallet prison >>

Bodmin Jail, Bodmin, Cornwall

Photograph © Bodmin Jail Attraction

Built in 1779 on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, the prison was ground breaking in prison reform at the time, with individual cells, separate areas for men and women and prisoners paid for their work.

The prison was completely re-developed by 1861 and included a chapel and a debtors' jail, until 1869 when imprisonment for debt was abolished. From 1887, part of the jail was used by the Royal Navy, who were there until 1922. Over the years there were 55 executions on site, 8 of them being women.

The last prisoner left in 1916, and the jail was decommissioned in 1927.

The jail has been open as a tourist attraction for some time, but was recently overhauled and now has a lot to offer the visitor, including an immersive 'Dark Walk Experience', Ghost Tours, After Dark Tours, Scary Cinema and even a hotel being built in the site for visitors. The jail has the only original Victorian hanging pit left in the country (pictured), the Naval prison cells, an in depth look at the stories behind the administration of the prison and overall it looks like a fantastic place to visit.

Bodmin Jail Website >>

Shrewsbury Prison, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Photograph © Shrewsbury Prison

Built in 1793, Shrewsbury Prison was built to replace the prison in the castle, which was crumbling so badly that prisonners could escape by removing bricks from the walls. Known as 'the Dana' after Rev Edmund Dana, a local vicar and magistrate, the prison was a place of execution for many years, with public hangings which attracted large crowds.

The prison was decomissioned in 2013 and is now open to visitors, with a wide variety of tours and events on offer. Guided tours by ex-prison officers during the day or after dark, tours underground of the original prison, escape rooms, a 'prison break' event, nights spent in the cells, ghost hunting, live music, even axe throwing; it is all on offer here.

Shrewsbury Prison website >>

Clink Prison Museum, Southwark, London

There has been a prison on this site in Southwark, London from 1151. Owned by the Bishops of Winchester, the prison was part of the estate, and included heretics as well as local criminals.

No-one is quite sure how the Clink got its name - whether from the clinking of the chains the prisoners wore, or of the cell doors slamming shut, but it has now become a universal term for prisons.

This one became the most notorious of prisons, with massive amounts of corruption and prisoner degradation. By the 16th century, the prison largely held people who disagreed with the Bishops, and after that mainly held debtors. After a decrease in numbers, the prison burnt down in a riot in 1780 and was never rebuilt.

The museum is built on the original site, and contains just a single wall left from the original building. It covers over 600 years of history with a self-guided tour which looks at the assorted inmates, debauchery of the Southwark area and artefacts connected with the prison.

Read about a visit to the Clink Prison Museum >>

Littledean Jail, Gloucester

This one is best avoided by children and those of a sensitive disposition, as the warnings on their website will attest. Describing their museum as politically insensitive and bizarre, there is a huge rage of items on display. Exhibitions look at Witchfinders, Satanism, the SS and the Holocaust, the KKK, instruments of punishment and torture, police memorabilia and a whole host of other subjects. It is not all the dark side though, as their subject matters include the bravery of the SAS and people like Violette Szabo of the S.O.E .

Littledean Jail was built in 1791, and little has changed since it was first built. It has held all manner of prisoners, including children as young as 8, and is believed to be one of the most haunted prisons in the country. It was also used as a police station and a court for 20 years from 1854.

Read the website before you go to make sure you want to - reviews on Trip Advisor range from 'fantastic' to 'absolutely disgusting', so make sure you know what you are getting into.

Littledean Jail website >>

Gloucester Prison, Gloucester

Built in 1792 as a County Jail, this men's prison has been renovated and added to over the years, including the addition of a Young Offenders Wing in the 1970s.

It was the site of many an execution, with the last one taking place in 1936. By the early 2000s it had a reputation as being seriously overcrowded, as well as bad conditions for the inmates and subject to repeated flooding.

The prison closed in 2013 and its re-development is still under discussion. In the meantime however, it is open to the public for guided tours and a variety of events.

Visitors can take guided tours which are family friendly or which included more details on the executions, paranormal activity and violence. Various paranormal groups run ghost hunts in the prison, as do Salvation-Z - a live action Zombie survival experience, or combat games.

Read about a visit to Gloucester Prison >>

National Justice Museum, Nottingham

A Victorian Courtroom Photograph © National Justice Museum

The National Justice Museum is in a Grade II listed building, on a site which has been in use as a court since 1375 and a prison since 1449. The current building was a Victorian police station, gaol, courtroom and execution site, making it a one stop shop for the judicial process. Executions were held on the front steps of the building, with the last public execution held in 1864 of a Richard Parker, who shot both of his parents after a drunken row.

The building ceased use as prison in 1878, but continued as courts and the meeting place of the County Council until 1991. It opened as a museum in 1995 and objects on display include the cell door of p laywright Oscar Wilde, the bath from the Brides in the Bath murder case, gibbet irons, force feeding equipment used on Suffragettes and conscientious objectors and the dock from Bow Street Magistrates Court, which was used in notorious cases such as the trials of Oscar Wilde, Roger Casement and the Krays. T here are over 40 000 objects and archives, making it the UK’s largest collection relating to law, justice, crime and punishment.

National Justice Museum website >>

Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast

Built in 1845, 'the Crum' in North Belfast was a County Gaol for men, women and children, who were often imprisoned for offences such as stealing food and necessities.

Executions were carried out in public at the gaol until 1901, when an execution chamber was built inside. 17 executions were carried out in the prison, including the final one in all of Ireland in 1961. The prison had some well known prisoners from the Troubles, and two prisoners were killed when a IRA bomb went off in one of the wings. The prison closed in 1996.

The prison is now not just a tourist attraction, but hosts concerts, live events and party nights. Tourists can do the Crumlin Road Gaol Experience, a self-guided tour around the building which includes the tunnel linking the courthouse on the other side of the Crumlin Road to the hanging cell, the historic holding cells and the graveyard.

Read about visiting Crumlin Road Gaol >>

York Castle Prison, York

Photograph © Visit York

Part of York Castle Museum, there has been a prison on the site for nearly 1000 years, with a castle built for William the Conqueror in 1068, which included a prison.

The site is still in use for criminal justice, with York Crown Court held in the 18th century court and people are still held in cells here, including those accused of the most serious crimes.

The prison buildings were built in the 18th century, and visitors can explore the original cells. Conditions were terrible at the prison, with 15 to a cell sleeping on bare floors and living off bread and water. Many of the Keepers of the prison were as corrupt as the inmates, and they made as much money as they could off the prisoners. The most notorious prisoner held here was the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin, who was found guilty of his crimes at York Court and sentenced to death at the gallows.

The museum is part of a visit to York Castle Museum, which looks at many aspects of life in historic York.

York Castle Prison Museum website >>

Prison & Police Museum, Rippon

Photograph © Rippon Museums

There has been a prison on this site since 1684, when a Workhouse and House of Correction was established for putting the poor to work and punishing those who had broken the law. In 1816, it was incorporated into the new Liberty Prison, which is the current museum building. Prisoners were held in cells on the ground floor, with debtors on the floor above them. Inmates had to do hard labour and worked for 10 hours a day, walking the treadwheel amongst other tasks.

The prison later became the police station, until it became a museum in the 1980s, one of three in the area which also include a workhouse museum and the courthouse, giving a fantastic look at poverty and justice in the region. The prison museum includes a look at policing from the Anglo-Saxons onwards, as well as an exhibition in the prison cells about life in a Victorian prison.

Rippon Prison and Police Museum website >>

The Old Gaol Museum, Buckingham

Photograph © Buckingham Old Gaol

Built in 1748, this Gothic prison provided terrible conditions for the inmates, who lived in damp cells with no heating, lights or bathrooms, and who were fed on just bread and water.

The prison housed local convicts, although one in three were just poachers, often held for the smallest of crimes.

Over the years, the prison has been used as a Police Station, Fire Station, ammunition store and an air-raid shelter. Faced with demolition in the 1980s, the prison was bought by a charitable organisation, and it now houses the local museum as well as the Old Gaol.

The museum focuses on local history, spanning time from the Ice Age to World War I. It is also home to the Lenborough Hoard of 5,000 Anglo-Saxon silver coins as well as a permanent exhibition dedicated to Flora Thompson, author of Lark Rise to Candleford .

Buckingham Old Gaol Website >>

Dorchester Prison, Dorchester, Dorset

A Victorian prison built in 1885 on the site of a much older prison, Dorchester was closed in 2013 and is now awaiting its fate from developers.

In the meantime, you can take guided tours from Ed who is still a serving prison officer and who used to work there. He provides a fascinating insight into the life of this prison, showing you round this now crumbling site. There were several executions here, including that of Martha Brown who is said to still be haunting the prison, and whose execution was watched by Thomas Hardy, inspiring the hanging he wrote about in Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Visitors can also join paranormal nights and airsoft combat games within its walls.

Read more about visiting Dorchester Prison >>

Want to delve even deeper into prison history? Try the Prison History website which looks at UK prison history from 1500 - 1999.

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Inside the Penal Colonies: a Glimpse at Life for Political Prisoners Swept Up in Russia's Crackdowns

Memorial, russia’s oldest and most prominent human rights organization, counted 558 political prisoners in the country as of april — more than three times the figure than in 2018, when it listed 183., by dasha litvinova • published june 3, 2023 • updated on june 3, 2023 at 4:06 am.

When Alexei Navalny turns 47 on Sunday, he'll wake up in a bare concrete cell with hardly any natural light.

He won't be able to see or talk to any of his loved ones. Phone calls and visits are banned for those in “punishment isolation” cells, a 2-by-3-meter (6 1/2-by-10-foot) space. Guards usually blast patriotic songs and speeches by President Vladimir Putin at him.

“Guess who is the champion of listening to Putin’s speeches? Who listens to them for hours and falls asleep to them?” Navalny said recently in a typically sardonic social media post via his attorneys from Penal Colony No. 6 in the Vladimir region east of Moscow.

He is serving a nine-year term due to end in 2030 on charges widely seen as trumped up, and is facing another trial on new charges that could keep him locked up for another two decades. Rallies have been called for Sunday in Russia to support him.

Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.

Navalny has become Russia’s most famous political prisoner — and not just because of his prominence as Putin's fiercest political foe, his poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin, and his being the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary.

He has chronicled his arbitrary placement in isolation, where he has spent almost six months. He's on a meager prison diet, restricted on how much time he can spend writing letters and forced at times to live with a cellmate with poor personal hygiene, making life even more miserable.

Most of the attention goes to Navalny and other high-profile figures like Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced last month to 25 years on treason charges. But there's a growing number of less-famous prisoners who are serving time in similarly harsh conditions.

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Memorial, Russia’s oldest and most prominent human rights organization and a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, counted 558 political prisoners in the country as of April — more than three times the figure than in 2018, when it listed 183.

The Soviet Union's far-flung gulag system of prison camps provided inmate labor to develop industries such as mining and logging. While conditions vary among modern-day penal colonies, Russian law still permits prisoners to work on jobs like sewing uniforms for soldiers.

In a 2021 report, the U.S. State Department said conditions in Russian prisons and detention centers “were often harsh and life threatening. Overcrowding, abuse by guards and inmates, limited access to health care, food shortages and inadequate sanitation were common in prisons, penal colonies, and other detention facilities.”

Andrei Pivovarov, an opposition figure sentenced last year to four years in prison, has been in isolation at Penal Colony No. 7 in northern Russia’s Karelia region since January and is likely to stay there the rest of this year, said his partner, Tatyana Usmanova. The institution is notorious for its harsh conditions and reports of torture.

The 41-year-old former head of the pro-democracy group Open Russia spends his days alone in a small cell in a “strict detention” unit, and is not allowed any calls or visits from anyone but his lawyers, Usmanova told The Associated Press. He can get one book from the prison library, can write letters for several hours a day and is permitted 90 minutes outdoors, she said.

Other inmates are prohibited from making eye contact with Pivovarov in the corridors, contributing to his “maximum isolation,” she said.

“It wasn’t enough to sentence him to a real prison term. They are also trying to ruin his life there,” Usmanova added.

Pivovarov was pulled off a Warsaw-bound flight just before takeoff from St. Petersburg in May 2021 and taken to the southern city of Krasnodar. Authorities accused him of engaging with an “undesirable” organization -– a crime since 2015.

Several days before his arrest, Open Russia had disbanded after getting the “undesirable” label.

After his trial in Krasnodar, the St. Petersburg native was convicted and sentenced in July, when Russia’s war in Ukraine and Putin's sweeping crackdown on dissent were in full swing.

He told AP in a letter from Krasnodar in December that authorities moved him there “to hide me farther away” from his hometown and Moscow. That interview was one of the last Pivovarov was able to give, describing prison life there as “boring and depressing,” with his only diversion being an hour-long walk in a small yard. “Lucky” inmates with cash in their accounts can shop at a prison store once a week for 10 minutes but otherwise must stay in their cells, he wrote.

Letters from supporters lift his spirits, he said. Many people wrote that they used to be uninterested in Russian politics, according to Pivovarov, and “only now are starting to see clearly.”

Now, any letters take weeks to arrive, Usmanova said.

Conditions are easier for some less-famous political prisoners like Alexei Gorinov, a former member of a Moscow municipal council. He was was convicted of “spreading false information” about the army in July over antiwar remarks he made at a council session.

Criticism of the invasion was criminalized a few months earlier, and Gorinov, 61, became the first Russian sent to prison for it, receiving seven years.

He is housed in barracks with about 50 others in his unit at Penal Colony No. 2 in the Vladimir region, Gorinov said in written answers passed to AP in March.

The long sentence for a low-profile activist shocked many, and Gorinov said “authorities needed an example they could showcase to others (of) an ordinary person, rather than a public figure.”

Inmates in his unit can watch TV, and play chess, backgammon or table tennis. There's a small kitchen to brew tea or coffee between meals, and they can have food from personal supplies.

But Gorinov said prison officials still carry out “enhanced control” of the unit, and he and two other inmates get special checks every two hours, since they've been labeled “prone to escape.”

There is little medical help, he said.

“Right now, I’m not feeling all that well, as I can’t recover from bronchitis," he said, adding that he needed treatment for pneumonia last winter at another prison's hospital ward, because at Penal Colony No. 2, the most they can do is “break a fever.”

Also suffering health problems is artist and musician Sasha Skochilenko, who is detained amid her ongoing trial following her April 2022 arrest in St. Petersburg, also on charges of spreading false information about the army. Her crime was replacing supermarket price tags with antiwar slogans in protest.

Skochilenko has a congenital heart defect and celiac disease, requiring a gluten-free diet. She gets food parcels weekly, but there is a weight limit, and the 32-year-old can’t eat “half the things they give her there,” said her partner, Sophia Subbotina.

There's a stark difference between detention facilities for women and men, and Skochilenko has it easier in some ways than male prisoners, Subbotina said.

“Oddly enough, the staff are mostly nice. Mostly they are women, they are quite friendly, they will give helpful tips and they have a very good attitude toward Sasha,” Subbotina told AP by phone.

“Often they support Sasha, they tell her: ‘You will definitely get out of here soon, this is so unfair here.’ They know about our relationship and they are fine with it. They’re very humane,” she said.

There’s no political propaganda in the jail and dance music blares from a radio. Cooking shows play on TV. Skochilenko “wouldn’t watch them in normal life, but in jail, it’s a distraction,” Subbotina said.

She recently arranged for an outside cardiologist to examine Skochilneko and since March has been allowed to visit her twice a month.

Subbotina gets emotional when she recalled their first visit.

“It is a complex and weird feeling when you’ve been living with a person. Sasha and I have been together for over six years — waking up with them, falling asleep with them — then not being able to see them for a year," she said. "I was nervous when I went to visit her. I didn’t know what I would say to Sasha, but in the end, it went really well.”

Still, Subbotina said a year behind bars has been hard on Skochilenko. The trial is moving slowly, unlike usually swift proceedings for high-profile political activists, with guilty verdicts almost a certainty.

Skochilenko faces up to 10 years if convicted.

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Inmates at New York prison will get to watch eclipse after all

Inmates at New York state’s Woodbourne Correctional Facility will get to view Monday’s solar eclipse after all, lawyers for the inmates who sued over the matter said Thursday.

Six inmates at the medium-security men’s prison in Woodbourne in upstate New York sued the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision over not being allowed to view the eclipse.

The inmates argued that denying them the right to see the total eclipse would violate their religious rights, and that they view it as a religious event.

The lawyers in the case, Chris McArdle, Sharon Steinerman, and Madeline Byrd of Alston & Bird, said they the corrections department will allow the inmates to see it.

“We are pleased that, in response to our lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, New York State has entered into a binding settlement agreement that will allow our six clients to view the solar eclipse in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs,” they said in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed late last week, was withdrawn after the agreement. In suit also sought that eclipse glasses be provided.

The department’s acting commissioner, Daniel Martuscello III, had issued a memo on March 11 to all facilities stating that they would operate on a holiday schedule on the day of the eclipse — meaning there would be no movement from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m and inmates would remain in their cells, the lawsuit says.

The corrections department said it had begun a review of religious requests to view the eclipse, including from the six inmates at Woodbourne, in advance of the lawsuit being filed.

"We continued our analysis and review during the pendency of the lawsuit," the department said in a statement. "The Department has agreed to permit the six individuals to view the eclipse."

The lawsuit cited periods of darkness in religious texts, like during the during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Christianity, and an eclipse when Muhammad’s son died and a call to prayer in Islam.

On Monday, the moon will obscure the sun in the first solar eclipse visible in the United States since the one on Aug. 21, 2017. The next solar eclipse able to be viewed in the U.S. won't be until 2044.

For those in the path of total eclipse, the sky will become dark.

Woodbourne appears to be out of the path of total eclipse, according to NASA’s “eclipse explorer” website , but the sun will be mostly covered by the moon around 3:25 p.m.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Erin McLaughlin is an NBC News correspondent.

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With dissent stifled, some Russians help political prisoners by writing them letters of support

Muscovites write letters to political prisoners in the office of the liberal party Yabloko in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Yabloko hosts monthly letter-writing evenings in cities across the country. With protests all but stifled, more and more Russians at home and abroad are seeking to channel their activism by writing letters to political prisoners. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

A woman writes a letter to political prisoners in the office of the liberal party Yabloko in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Yabloko hosts monthly letter-writing evenings in cities across the country. With protests all but stifled, more and more Russians at home and abroad are seeking to help political prisoners by writing them letters. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

FILE - In this handout photo taken from video provided by the Moscow City Court on Feb. 2, 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shows a heart symbol while standing in a defendants’ cage during a hearing in the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia. Russians who are too fearful to protest in the streets are finding an outlet for their activism by writing letters to political prisoners. Whether it is simply withing them a happy birthday or a longer message of support, activists say they get positive feedback from inmates for the campaign. Despite efforts to isolate some political prisoners — Navalny repeatedly complained about failing to receive letters from his wife — and the general secrecy of the penal system, these services have operated unimpaired so far.(Moscow City Court via AP, File)

A man writes a letter to political prisoners in the office of the liberal party Yabloko in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Yabloko hosts monthly letter-writing evenings in cities across the country. With protests all but stifled, more and more Russians at home and abroad are seeking to help political prisoners by writing them letters. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

A woman writes a letter to political prisoners in the office of the liberal party Yabloko in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The party hosts monthly letter-writing evenings across the country. With protests all but stifled, more and more Russians at home and abroad are seeking to help political prisoners by writing them letters. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

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This story is part of a larger series on the crackdown on dissent in Russia. Click here to read more of those stories , and the AP’s coverage of Russia’s presidential election.

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — For Margarita, a 33-year-old event planner in St. Petersburg, the prison death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny was devastating news that left her dispirited and longing to take some sort of action.

But she said she had “no courage or strength” to stage a protest in Russia’s increasingly repressive climate , where even the most innocuous expression of dissent can land people in jail.

Then she saw a call by activists urging people to write letters to female political prisoners for International Women’s Day on March 8. She bought postcards for herself and several acquaintances to sign in what she saw as a safe and simple expression of support for the growing number of those imprisoned for their beliefs.

It’s an activity that has gained significant interest, not just from those who are too intimidated to take to the streets at home but also from those Russians who fled the country as President Vladimir Putin intensified his crackdown on dissent. He is seeking another six years in office in an election this month that he is all but certain to win.

“It’s a huge movement,” journalist and prisoner rights activist Zoya Svetova told The Associated Press. “It is, in a sense, resistance in its own way.”

Memorial, Russia’s oldest and most prominent rights group, says the number of political prisoners in the country has grown from 40 in 2014 to nearly 680 this year. OVD-Info, another prominent rights group, estimates there are 1,143 people behind bars on politically motivated charges.

The number of prosecutions grew rapidly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and public criticism of the war was outlawed.

“I can easily imagine myself in the shoes of someone who was detained and prosecuted on politically motivated charges,” said Margarita, who asked not to be identified by her surname for fear of retribution. Receiving “words of support even from people I don’t know” would be encouraging, she added.

Some take part quietly, like Margarita, with a small group of friends who mail their letters and postcards.

Muscovites write letters to political prisoners in the office of the liberal party Yabloko in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Yabloko hosts monthly letter-writing evenings across the country. With protests all but stifled, more and more Russians at home and abroad are seeking to help political prisoners by writing them letters. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

Others opt for online services used by many penal colonies and detention centers. These work like regular email, in which greetings to inmates are printed by prison officials. Handwritten replies from prisoners are scanned and emailed back to the original senders.

Despite efforts to isolate some political prisoners — Navalny repeatedly complained about failing to receive letters from his wife — and the general secrecy of the penal system, these services have operated unimpaired so far.

Multiple grassroots groups host regular letter-writing events, providing guidance to those who haven’t done it before.

One such organization, “Letters of Freedom,” hosts regular evening sessions in the capitals of Armenia and Georgia, and helps others in Russia and abroad hold similar events. Activists keep a detailed, up-to-date database of prisoners, their addresses and even interests. Founder Ivan Lyubimov said the group keeps in touch with 80 political prisoners, and 105 responded to activists at least once.

It’s a personal mission for Lyubimov, a graphics designer from Yekaterinburg who left Russia for Armenia in late 2022. He spent a month in jail for anti-war protests and knows how important it is to receive support from the outside.

The group provides a list of prisoners and addresses, tips on how to write a letter to someone you haven’t met, and other advice, including prison censorship rules.

A man reads a written letter to political prisoners at the office of the liberal party Yabloko in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Yabloko hosts monthly letter-writing evenings in cities across the country. With protests all but stifled, more and more Russians at home and abroad are seeking to channel their activism by writing letters to political prisoners. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

It ships handwritten letters to Russia, where volunteers mail them to prisons and relay any responses. The mail can take about two months, Lyubimov said, but it’s cheaper to use than the online services.

The group posts some of the responses from prisoners on social media, along with announcements of thematic letter-writing campaigns, like marking New Year’s and International Women’s Day holidays, or what prisoners might want to read in the letters.

The letters must be written in Russian, without profane language and avoiding topics that might not make it past the censors or put both prisoners and senders at risk, including criticism of authorities. The group urges caution about references to the war in Ukraine.

Prisoners “live in an information vacuum,” so any news or current events are of interest, said Alexander Mishuk of Letters of Freedom.

“In general, we try to focus on more human, simple things, talking about life, things that happen to us, something positive. We try to focus on things that we can have in common with the person,” he said.

Organizers often ask participants simply to sign postcards of birthday greetings to political prisoners, said Konstantin, an organizer in Berlin who spoke on condition that his last name not be used for fear of retribution.

They try to hold an event at least once a month, he said.

Daria Gorchakova, a Letters of Freedom activist in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, said the number of participants and organizers has been rising.

“As repressions grow harsher, it remains one of the few safe ways to support people who fell victim to these repressions and generally influence the situation somehow,” she said, adding that while it won’t stop the crackdown, it helps prisoners and also gives a sense of purpose to those writing the letters or organizing the campaigns.

Russia’s liberal political party Yabloko hosts monthly letter-writing evenings in cities across Russia and gets positive feedback from inmates.

“Russian prison is a peculiar place, and for many, attention from the outside, from beyond the prison walls … increases the level of safety,” party chairman Nikolai Rybakov said.

On Feb. 29, Yabloko’s Moscow office was crowded with people hunched over several desks, signing postcards and writing letters.

“We express our support, wish them health, wish them to take care,” said David Davtyan, a Muscovite who attended. “They’re the future of Russia, the free future of Russia that we all talk about, hope for and that will inevitably come.”

Russian Court Upholds Detention of WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich

A Russian court upheld the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, whom the U.S. government deems to be wrongfully detained, following recent remarks by President Vladimir Putin that he is open to a prisoner exchange for the journalist’s release.

Tuesday’s rejection of the latest appeal by Gershkovich’s lawyers means he is set to remain behind bars until at least March 30, which would mark more than a year since he was taken into custody on an allegation of espionage that the Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny.

Gershkovich, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen who was accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry to work there as a journalist, was detained by agents from the Federal Security Service on March 29 last year during a reporting trip in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

Russian investigators haven’t publicly presented evidence to back up their espionage allegation against Gershkovich, who is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison. Moscow has said it is acting in accordance with its laws.

Earlier this month, in a lengthy interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Putin said a prisoner swap for Gershkovich was being discussed between the U.S. and Russia but that the two sides needed to reach an agreement. Putin didn’t specify who Moscow was demanding in return for Gershkovich or other U.S. citizens detained in Russia.

U.S. officials declined to comment on Putin’s prisoner-exchange remarks, saying only that “Evan Gershkovich never should have been detained in the first place,” and should be freed immediately.

The court has rejected previous appeals by Gershkovich’s lawyers, at least one of which requested that he be transferred to house arrest, agree to constraints on his movements or be granted bail. The reporter’s initial pretrial detention was scheduled to expire on May 29 last year.

Legal experts say it could still be months before Gershkovich’s case is brought to trial. Under Russian law, investigators and prosecutors have wide latitude to request further extensions of pretrial detention. Espionage trials are typically conducted in secret and conviction could carry a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years. It is rare for a court to acquit a defendant in such cases.

“Evan Gershkovich appeared in the Moscow City Court today, where an appeal of his wrongful detention was denied once again,” the Journal said. “It’s been nearly one year since Evan’s unjust arrest for doing nothing more than his job, and every day he remains in prison is an unconscionable attack on a free press. Evan is a journalist, and any suggestion or portrayal otherwise is fiction. We continue to demand his immediate release.”

The U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, was in court for the hearing. “The U.S. position remains unchanged: The charges against Evan are baseless, the Russian government has locked Evan up simply for reporting news,” she said in a video posted to the embassy’s Telegram channel. “When the Kremlin uses lives as bargaining chips, real people suffer.”

Gershkovich was the first American journalist to be charged with espionage in Russia since the end of the Cold War. The U.S. government’s designation of wrongful detainment unlocked a broad effort to exert pressure on Moscow to free him. His case has garnered international attention and bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, which last June approved a resolution calling on Russia to immediately free Gershkovich.

Russia is also holding Michigan corporate-security executive Paul Whelan, who the U.S. also believes is being wrongly detained in Russia. The former U.S. Marine was convicted of espionage in 2020 and is serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian penal colony. Whelan, his family and the U.S. government say he isn’t a spy.

A third American, Alsu Kurmasheva, who holds dual U.S.-Russian citizenship and works for Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was taken into custody in October on a charge that she failed to register as a foreign agent. She also faces an allegation that she spread false information about Russia’s military. RFE/RL, Kurmasheva’s family and supporters say they believe she is being targeted for being a journalist and an American.

Russian law requires that individuals and organizations receiving funding from abroad and those deemed to be engaged in certain activities, such as gathering and distributing information about the Russian military, register as foreign agents. Kurmasheva, who is based in Prague, wasn’t doing any reporting in Russia during her visit, her company said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied that Russia is intentionally victimizing U.S. nationals.

“There are many foreign journalists working in Russia,” he said in an emailed response to questions. “They freely carry out their work, regardless of which country they represent. If law enforcement agencies suspect some of violating the law, appropriate measures are taken against them.”

Relations between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated starkly since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. On Friday, President Biden blamed Putin for the death in prison of the Russian leader’s most effective opponent, opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

“Make no mistake. Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death,” Biden said.

In a daily news briefing Monday, Peskov said an investigation was under way.

“In the absence of information, we consider it totally unacceptable to make such statements, which are frankly outright rude,” he added, referring to comments from political leaders blaming Putin for Navalny’s death.

Write to Ann M. Simmons at [email protected]