Once known as The Glasshouse, Shepton Mallet is the oldest working prison in the UK — operational from 1610 to 2013 — and to absolutely no one’s surprise, it’s deeply haunted.

This place has seen it all: public hangings, solitary confinement, military executions, and over 400 years of human suffering. The energy is thick. Guests and investigators have reported everything from cell doors slamming on their own, to growling sounds, to disembodied screams echoing down corridors.

The old execution room — where prisoners were hanged right up until the mid-20th century — is considered one of the most active areas. Cold spots, equipment malfunctions, and overwhelming dread are all common here. Some visitors have felt as though they were being choked, while others describe sharp pressure in their chest — a grim echo of what once happened in that room.

Apparitions of former inmates have been seen wandering the upper landings, especially around the C-Wing — including a figure in prison uniform that disappears into locked cells. Voices, moans, and dragging footsteps are frequently picked up on EVP. There’s even talk of a former warden who still “patrols” the wings and is not fond of being questioned.

This isn’t residual energy — it’s emotional residue soaked into the brick. If you’re looking for a location that tests your limits? Shepton Mallet is waiting.