Spirits Behind Bars: The Haunting of Shepton Mallet Prison and the Skirrid Inn
Spirits Behind Bars: The Haunting of Shepton Mallet Prison and the Skirrid Inn (Investigating the Haunted)
By Richard Estep
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
This investigation finds Estep travelling back to his native land to visit two locations. He teams with friend and fellow investigator MJ who brings her small team along. There’s a shout out to “Midsomer Murders” when describing the village that MJ resides in. To be honest this is my dream…to live in a small village where there are buildings older than the way I feel (most mornings) and neighborhood pubs where you can get a decent pint, a cozy atmosphere and the resident ghost story. I love thatch roofs, tudor style homes, and just the general feel (sad part is I have never been, just watched A LOT of British TV). One huge issue on making it there…I hate to fly…despise it in fact. Something about the thought of recycled air gives me the creepy crawlies. I’ve always felt the need to wear a mask (or full hazmat suite) while aboard an airplane, way before COVID was even a thing. I only mention it because Estep discusses traveling there. I enjoy that he spends some time talking about what’s it’s like to be back there and a bit about some of the people that will be joining him on his investigation. I personally relate to Carl best as I also have a mouth that says things that are not publishable in a book like this one. I’ve been known to make truckers and sailors blush a bit (which is partially why I decided to start my own book review/discussion forum as Amazon does not allow me to express my feelings adequately).
Photo: Tripadvisor
Photo: Reddit
The first investigative location is the Skirrid Inn. MJ managed to arrange for them to be there for a three day stretch placing Estep in a room that is said to be very active paranormally. The inn is located in a small Welsh village, Llanvihangel Crucorney, Wales and it’s old! I mean old, circa 1110 old. Some bits older and some bits newer but all of it over 200 years old for the most part. Hell the door was carbon dated back 1500 years. That’s just crazy to me. A few of the ghosts are discussed here like the “Hanging Judge” George Jefferys (he was responsible for sending 100s of people to their deaths, some of them most likely innocent. I think he just enjoyed it. He died in the Tower of London as a prisoner so no surprise there. His history can be found here in “Choked”), John Crowther, who is thought to have been hanged there and Fanny Price, who worked at the inn and passed from TB as so many did during the time of her death.
Photo: History Points
"Entrance to the haunted Skirrid Inn of Wales. This door is original to the building and the wood has been carbon dated to 1500 years old.".
Photo: Amy's Crypt
Photo: The Little House of Horrors
Interestingly enough there is no proof (that anyone has found) that any hangings took place at the inn at all or that George Jefferys presided over any cases here (it is with in the very real realm of possibility though so…). There is record that part of the building was used as a court room at one time and there are marks on the “hanging beam” that could be explained by hangings taking place but as stated before there is no found record of that.
Photo: hunted-houses.co,uk
Devils Brew Cup - Photo: Haunting Nights
"Looking at the front fire place in the pub area. The Devil’s Cup sits to the right of the mantle, left out half full for the Devil himself."
Photo: Amy's Crypt
I love Esteps description of the inn when he arrives there. It really gives you the feel of the place. Really makes you want to go and just spend some time hanging out. Some of the history/folklore surrounding the place is fascinating and fun to learn about (The Devil’s Brew etc). Estep is in room 1 and this is where they start their investigation. It’s nice the Estep explains some of the equipment and methods used in some detail in his books. I have been interested in all things otherworldly for a long time but for those that are either new or just curious it’s very helpful. From room 1 they go to the bar/restaurant after closing time. Then on to room 2 (Carl’s Room). Their results can be read about.
Room 1 - Richard Estep's room - Photo: Tripadvisor
Room 2 - Carl's Room - Photo: Wales Online
A word of warning, Estep talks about food on the regular so it’s my best advice that you do not read this one hungry. I totally want a full English now.
Full English - Tripadvisor
Room 3 - MJ's room - Photo: Tripadvisor
The Second night is an eventful one. Starting in Room 3 and eventually moving down stairs to the pub. Lots of bad feelings on the second floor and top floor from the ladies in the group. This night yields some interesting results.
"Top floor of the Skirrid Inn"
Photo: Andy Dolman on Wiki Commons
Room 1 private bath - perfectly natural to be naked in this room, Richard - Photo: Wales Online
Skirrid Inn Restaurant - Tripadvisor
The third and last night at the Skirrid Inn they do a spirit board session while conducting a live event for their Patreon followers. Allowing the followers to ask questions. This is all taking place in room 1. Interestingly enough Carl will not participate in the Spirit (Ouija) board session. I’m with him on this one. Especially after reading all of the books from Ed and Lorraine Warren. I would have to pass as well. But the results speak for themselves and are, in my opinion quiet impressive. (A note to our author about his lack of “naked” confidence: it’s not about the size or aesthetics of one’s equipment but more about how functional and effective it can be. Wink wink….). Next they head down to the pub/restaurant area trying to recreate results from the previous night. Then they move to the alleged prisoners cell which sits on a landing between the second and first floors. They close their investigation with a toast to Larry. Read the book at you will understand this reference.
Holding Cell between the first and second floors - Photo: The Little House of Horrors
Photo: YouTube
Ariel view of HMP Shepton Mallet
Photo: BBC "HMP Shepton Mallet revamp sparks unmarked graves fear"
They leave the inn the following morning and head to Shepton Mallet Prison. The first chapter is a bit about the history of the place. It is actually Britain’s longest functioning prison. It dates back to the 1600’s and was not closed permanently until 2013. The first night there the team are joined by several members of the public. They all split up into groups and conduct sessions in different parts of the prison. I feel like the guests get what they paid for. They explore A Wing, the prison kitchen, and the gatehouse.
The second night is the final night that the team will have members of the public with them for the investigation. They split them into three groups with Estep going between them. There are some accounts that he gets from the two guides that are staff there and then moves to the first group who are back in the gatehouse. Three groups take part in sessions in the gatehouse. Then Estep decides to go with a group to A Wing for the final session of the evening. The gatehouse lent some interesting results. But the most interesting thing happens when the team returns to the inn on this conclusion to the second night a Shepton Mallet…smh.
A Wing
Rodw via commons.wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0
On the third night it’s just the team. They do a walk through to see if MJ picks up on anything that will help them decide where to focus their sessions and then get to work. During this night they start in B Wing then move on to A Wing. D Wing is next on the list. This is where you will find the execution room, the condemned cell, the hangmans room (I guess the executioner came to the prison the day before the execution was to take place. They were there to observe the condemned, in secret, and calculate the length of rope needed to get a clean break), and the segregation area (known to us as solitary confinement). This third night lends some good results and the team heads back to base. No surprises in the window this night.
Execution Room
Rodw via commons.wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0
The final night at HMP Shepton Mallet finds the team tired and zombified. Somewhat poetic the team starts their evening off in the infirmary. After that they head back to the gatehouse. Then MJ and Estep have another live event scheduled and they decide to set up at the intersection of A Wing and D Wing. They conduct two session here. One with the audience and another after they take a much needed break. The break itself is eventful. After the second session at the A Wing and D Wing intersection they decide to go to C Wing. They go to the trapdoor room and the morgue. The last location they spend time at is the part of the grounds where the Shepton Seven were buried.
C Wing
Rodw via commons.wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0
Chapter 22 gives us a little background on these seven men who were executed right before the American’s took control of the prison. Their names were: Samuel Reylands (name spelling is questionable, he is accused of murdering a 9 year old girl named Emma Davey’s), Henry Dainton (accused of drowning his wife Hannah in the river), Charles Squires (accused of killing his wife’s illegitimate two year old son.), Henry Quartly (or Quarterly, accused of shooting Henry Pugsley, a man that Quartly had been feuding with for years.), Verney Asser (accused of shoot his love rival, Joseph Durkin, in the head), William Grover Bignell (accused of murdering his lover Mrs. Margaret Legg), and Ignatius Emanuel Napthali Trebitsch-Lincoln (aka John, accused of murdering Edward Charles Ingram Richards during a home invasion gone bad). The short accounts are fascinating. The short session that the team conducts by the grave site is mercifully (in many ways) fruitless. Although I will say that the last few paragraphs of this book are lovely. It’ll give you some feels.
Closing thoughts:
Two great locations that yield some very fascinating results. Both paranormal and personal. There are some really amusing moments in this one. I still wonder about the white smiley moon seen by the team upon their return to the inn one night. While rude, childish and technically illegal it’s also hilarious if you have a warped sense of humor like mine. Unfortunately it looks like there are plans for some greedy developer to come in and make flats out of part of the prison. All I have to say is good luck if they do decide to do this (idiots)(although their website is still offering annual passes so maybe they got things worked out, fingers crossed). If I do ever get my reclusive behind over to the UK it would be lovely to spend some time at the Skirrid Inn. If nothing else to get me a full English breakfast. I can’t think of no better way to end this post.
