Shepton Mallet Prison Jailhouse Tours

What makes us a great choice for education?

There are very few prisons in this country that are open to the public. We don’t offer gimmicks, just a real Victorian prison. The tours are led by guides with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the prison and have a wealth of stories to relate. On view are 2 main wings, the constant watch cells, the segregation area, healthcare, the exercise yards and the hanging room including the cell where the condemned prisoner spent his last night (this can be excluded from the tour if preferred).

The tour will be adapted to the school year and what you as a teacher want to achieve. As well as being educational, some organisations will use the experience as a preventative tool – bringing home the harsh reality of prison life.

What is typically included on our school trips?

As a starting point for all students, we offer a guided tour of the prison. The tour is led by an ex-prison officer with a wealth of stories to tell. The experience starts in reception where prisoners were processed and then moves on to the wings, the cells, exercise yards, healthcare and the execution room. Students will learn what it was like to be incarcerated from the Victorian to the modern day and there will be plenty of opportunities for questions and engagement between the students and officers. 

You can choose to enhance your visit with various add on activities including:

• Prisoner Experience
• Cell Escape 

In essence, each visit is tailored to your requirements.

Group Sizes Catered For

From 8 to 120.

Materials, Resources & Information Provided

We can provide work sheets which students can complete as they go round. If you choose the prisoner experience, the students will be asked to put on orange jump suits (over their clothing). If you chose the Cell Escape, students will be given a range of challenges to complete.

Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions

No restrictions.

Risk Assessment Details

Yes, we can provide a risk assessment. 

Education Officer Information

Paige Merrick

schools@shrewsburyprison.com

01743 343100

Pricing Information

A 2 hour tour session which includes a 1.30/40 tour and a 20 to 30 minute lunch break is £10 per student.

Add-Ons:

1. Prisoner Experience – an additional £2.00 per student.
2. Cell Escape Experience – an additional £2.00 per student.
3. Educational Programmes. These are classroom based and the options include:

• Psychology & Sociology
• Crime & Punishment
• Prison through the ages
• Tourism & Events
• Media & Marketing

Two adults go free with first 30 children, then 1 adult free per 15 thereafter.

Clothing Requirements

The prison is cold without heating so warm clothing is recommended along with flat shoes due to the number of stairs between the landings.

First Aid Information

We have staff who are first aid trained.

Available Facilities

We have a shop with merchandise starting at £1.00.

Lots of toilets and plenty of room to eat a packed lunch.

Accessibility & Disabled Facilities

As a traditional prison with lots of stairs between the landings, access isn’t great. The ground floor is completely accessible in a wheelchair and we have a disabled toilet.

Opening Hours & Information

We are open between 10am & 5pm, 7 days a week, but can open earlier by prior arrangement.

Testimonials

The feedback we receive from schools is first class, with teachers telling us that the pupils were very engaged, imaginations were fired and lessons, on every level, were learnt.

Other Information

Schools and Universities return year after year and report very high levels of engagement amongst their students.