Bodmin Jail
Bodmin Jail (alternatively Bodmin Gaol) is a historic former prison situated in Bodmin, on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Built in 1779 and closed in 1927, a large range of buildings fell into ruin, but parts of the prison have been turned into a tourist attraction, and more recently another large part was converted into a hotel.
| Bodmin Jail | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Bodmin Jail as seen from Cardell Road in 2010 | |
| Alternative names | Bodmin Gaol |
| General information | |
| Status | Converted to attraction and hotel. |
| Type | Former prison, current tourist attraction |
| Town or city | Bodmin |
| Country | England |
| Opened | 1779 |
| Renovated | 2015 - 2017 |
| Closed | Jail closed in 1927, later reopened as a tourist attraction. |
| Renovation cost | £8.5 million |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Sir John Call |
| Other information | |
| Parking | Public car park nearby |
| Website | |
| http://www.bodminjail.org/ | |
History
1779 - 1927
Bodmin Gaol was designed by Sir John Call and built in 1779 by prisoners of war, and was operational for 150 years, in which it saw over 50 public hangings. It was the first British prison to hold prisoners in individual cells.[1]
The jail closed in 1927. Since that date, there has been no prison within the county of Cornwall.[2]
During the latter part of World War I, the prison was used for holding some of Britain's "State Papers and Records" including the Domesday Book. The material was in the jail in 1918-1919.[3]
1927 - Today
Bodmin Jail is now a hotel as of 2021 and after redevelopment that started in 2015, Bodmin Jail Limited now operates as a museum, gift shop and hosts guided tours at the site.[4]
A number of guided tours take place at the jail, including a heritage tour, paranormal walk, and self-guided tour. The attraction includes original jail cells, an administration block, and a recreation of Bodmin Moor located where the old hospital wing used to be.[5]
The paranormal tours include a ghost-hunting experience, where guests can use tools such as ouija boards to attempt to communicate with spirits.[6]
Ghosts
Bodmin Jail has inspired many ghost stories, attracted paranormal researchers, and ghost walk events are held for tourists there.
Most Haunted
Series 6, Episode 1 of Most Haunted, a British-made reality TV show, saw the crew attempt their paranormal activities at the jail with presenter Yvette Fielding and medium, Derek Acorah. After many unsuccessful attempts, the team supposedly made contact with many light and sound entities, whilst Acorah claimed to have been possessed by a spirit named Kreed Kafer, a South African.
It was later revealed that "Kreed Kafer" was a fictional character, who was created purely by parapsychologist and crew member Ciarán O'Keeffe, to test Derek Acorah and his abilities.[7] The name was created because it was an anagram of the phrase 'Derek Faker'.[8]
Video evidence
In 2018, a husband and wife ghost-hunting duo took cameras and other ghost-hunting equipment to the jail. The footage they took appears to show a ghost thought to be William Hampton, a prisoner who was hung at the jail, as well as visible "light orbs".[9][10]
In 2021, Bodmin Jail's paranormal manager Kirsten Honey caught an "agitated woman" on camera. According to Kirsten, she's been seen around the jail on numerous occasions, with guests often feeling uncomfortable when she's around.[11] After the incident, the jail recorded "heightened paranormal activity" in the building.[12]
Possession
Kristen Honey, the jail's paranormal manager spoke to Cornwall Live stating that possessions happen at the jail. However, Honey claims that possession appears as a sudden change in a person's behaviour or sudden faintness, and not how they appear in TV or movies.[13]
References
- D. L. Prior, ‘Call, Sir John, first baronet (1732–1801)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 18 Sept 2008
- "Plans for new faith-based prison". BBC Online. BBC. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- Johnson, Bill (2006). The History of Bodmin Jail. Bodmin, Cornwall, UK: Bodmin Town Museum. pp. 107–108. ISBN 0 9549913 1 1.
- "Bodmin Jail redevelopment information and news".
- Trewhela, Lee (14 January 2023). "Haunting attraction is Cornwall's best kept secret". CornwallLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Harper, Leah (28 October 2016). "Dead scary: Bodmin Jail ghost tours". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- "BadPsychics by Jon Donni - News". Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
- Spooky Truth: TV's Most Haunted Con Exposed - Mirror.Co.Uk
- Becquart, Charlotte; Channon, Max (11 January 2018). "Video shows hanged man's ghost at Bodmin Jail, claims paranormal investigator". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Becquart, Charlotte (8 January 2018). "'Ghost of last man hanged in Cornwall' caught on camera". CornwallLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Becquart, Charlotte (19 June 2021). "Ghost of 'agitated' woman caught on camera at Bodmin Jail". CornwallLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Becquart, Charlotte (30 June 2021). "'Heightened paranormal activity' witnessed at former Cornwall prison". CornwallLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- Becquart, Charlotte (4 September 2021). "Clairvoyant sees possessions and says paranormal is no mind trick". CornwallLive. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
External links
