The Hanging Pit: The Haunting of Bodmin Jail
The Hanging Pit: The Haunting of Bodmin Jail (Investigating the Haunted)
By Richard Estep
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Bodmin Jail circa 1930
Photo: bodminjail.org
This book finds Estep back in the UK for a visit to another prison, Bodmin Jail. With him, also from the US, is Father Stephen Weidner, a friend and fellow investigator. A few fellow investigators from the UK join the team for this adventure. They are staying at the Jamaica Inn which in and of itself has been reported to be haunted. The team will not be investigating this location on this visit but if they happen to have a few experiences there along the way the more the merrier. Oh and less than two full chapters into the book steak and ale pie is already being talked about. Mr. Estep is always making me hungry (a Ghoulie after my own heart). Apparently the rule is no alcohol during investigations, which makes perfect sense to me as occurrences are already subjective enough without drugs in one’s system. A shame though because they have some nice beers in the UK…or so I hear.
Photo courtesy of The Bodmin Jail Hotel
No rest for the wicked, the team heads out after dinner to start their investigation. The third chapter is a brief history of the jail. As this visit took place in 2018 the fact that it has since been renovated into a luxury hotel (it’s an amazing transformation of parts of the prison. Some parts that were falling apart (as in the outside was encroaching on the inside) at that! It really is a beautiful hotel plus they kept part of the prison intact and turned it into a museum. The food looks amazing too! If ever I happen to be in Cornwall… is obviously unknown to our team of investigators (no precogs in the group). The group gets acquainted with the two members of staff that will be present during the evening and hear about some of the experiences that have been reported to them over the years. But they don’t give them too much as they don’t want to prejudice the group.
Bodmin Jail prior to the renovations. The Navel Prison and the Common mans prison make up the Hotel and Visitors Center.
Photo: building.co.uk
Bodmin Jail Hotel
Photo: twelvearchitechs.com
The group makes the decision to start the investigation in the basement. There have been others that have gotten good results in this area so why not? Then, after a break and another session the group decided to move on to what is known as the Faerie Cell (still located in the basement). Then after some time they decide to move onto another floor and settle on the ground floor. Some interesting things have happened thus far. (An interesting fun fact about Selina Wadge – she was the last woman to be hanged at Bodmin and was the first prisoner to be hanged via the “Long Drop” which was developed by executioner William Marwood post abolishment of public hangings. Marwood oversaw Wadge’s execution personally.)
The Basement
Photo: bodminjail.org
Video still from Paranormal Investigator Tony Ferguson
Photo: dailymail.co.uk
The long drop
Photo: bodminjail.org
Display on Selena Wadge at Bodmin Jail
Photo: Criminal Historian blog
The second night the team meets the man that is overseeing the renovation project (this is where the hotel was built and the renovations are amazing!) in the currently falling apart Navel Prison and Civil Prison, Vince. These areas are technically off limits normally as they are not particularly safe BUT Vince offers to take them over and show them around a bit. It’s an opportunity that they can’t turn down. A few quick sessions are conducted here with varying results. Vince takes his leave and the team decides to move on to the Hanging Pit aka Hanging Shed. Then on to what used to be the medical building after a break. Here they get nothing and decide to head back to the main building. The last session that the team holds is a glass work session. Which is what it sounds like, a glass on a table, everyone puts their finger on that glass and it moves. Similar to the Ouija. The glass session lends some interesting results (some of it very amusing). This is the teams last night here at the jail.
The Hanging Pit - Only two people were ever executed here.
Photo: bodminjail.org
Bodmin Jail Display of double hanging.
Photo: cornwalls.co.uk
Chapter 12 starts the recounting of Stephen and Richards return to the jail in March of 2019. This time MJ joins the team (we know MJ from the previous read about the Skirrid Inn and HMP Shepton Mallet Prison), Penny who gets introduced here, Wes who is a CO (corrections officer) from Canada, Jill and Sharon who are friends of Stephen, and Lesley and Gaynor are back again. So a much bigger team this time around. More energy to draw on. Turns out that the amusing bit from the glass session the previous year is perhaps not so amusing. They spend some time in the basement and on other subsequent floors. Part of the group also spends some time doing a glass work session. From what I’m hearing there is an inhuman spirit in this place that is definitely trying to latch on to someone. But this is only my opinion you’ll need to read the book to draw your own conclusions. Why not join our twisted community of horror lovers by creating an account and dive into discussions that will rattle your bones. Share your thoughts, unleash your screams, and connect over the dark tales that haunt us all—your voice deserves to be heard!
The Condemned Cell
Photo: bodminjail.org
The second night, as predicted by guide Kirsten, is an active night especially for Richard. Something strange comes over him and it’s not for the better. It’s a rough night for Richard and Wes. With this being the last night for the investigation they want to get as much explored as possible. The conclusion of this trip is an interesting one.
Jail staircase
Photo: Gethin Thomas
Ariel view of Bodmin Jail
Closing thoughts:
This sounds like an amazing place with an interesting history. It’s not surprising to me that a location like this is active paranormally. So much emotion attached to this energy. The fact that there were people who were executed for things like setting a bale of hay on fire is inconceivable. Makes you wonder who’s hay it was and how much political pull they had in the community. Another well written account of two investigations into Bodmin Jail. I will say that it’s probably a good thing that Stephen was there in both cases to bolster the “signing off” of the location because it sounds to me like there are entities that are very keen to attach themselves to someone. Anyone.
