Grade II listed HMP Shrewsbury closed in March 2013 and was a category C/B men’s prison. It was built near the site of a medieval prison called Dana Gaol, which is why this prison if often referred to as “The Dana”. The prison sits opposite the train station, and between 1868 and WWI the now disused Platform 8 was used to transport prisoners.
The prison was built in 1877 and took female convicts up until 1922. Between 1902 and 1961 seven people were executed by hanging here. Executions took place at 8am and all executed prisoners were buried in unmarked graves inside the prison.
In 2005 a report named HMP Shrewsbury the most overcrowded prison in England and Wales, and in 2008 a report stated the prison had places for 178 inmates but held 326.
In January 2013, it was announced the prison was scheduled for closure and the last inmates were moved to other prisons by the end of February 2013.
The prison was sold to the Trevor Osborne Property Group in 2014 and it was expected to be converted into homes and offices. In April 2015 plans were submitted for the prison to be converted into 200 student flats for the nearby University Centre Shrewsbury, the plans also included restaurants, shops, and a gym, but they were rejects on grounds of the effect it would have on traffic.
I’ve visited here twice now at £15 a pop to be able to walk around unguided. I’m sure there’s plenty of ways in without paying, but for me it was much more relaxed just getting permission and having the place to myself for a couple of hours (apart from a little ginger cat that decided to follow me around).
Thanks for looking,
Rubex
The prison was built in 1877 and took female convicts up until 1922. Between 1902 and 1961 seven people were executed by hanging here. Executions took place at 8am and all executed prisoners were buried in unmarked graves inside the prison.
In 2005 a report named HMP Shrewsbury the most overcrowded prison in England and Wales, and in 2008 a report stated the prison had places for 178 inmates but held 326.
In January 2013, it was announced the prison was scheduled for closure and the last inmates were moved to other prisons by the end of February 2013.
The prison was sold to the Trevor Osborne Property Group in 2014 and it was expected to be converted into homes and offices. In April 2015 plans were submitted for the prison to be converted into 200 student flats for the nearby University Centre Shrewsbury, the plans also included restaurants, shops, and a gym, but they were rejects on grounds of the effect it would have on traffic.
I’ve visited here twice now at £15 a pop to be able to walk around unguided. I’m sure there’s plenty of ways in without paying, but for me it was much more relaxed just getting permission and having the place to myself for a couple of hours (apart from a little ginger cat that decided to follow me around).
Thanks for looking,
Rubex
