Bodmin Jail: Cornwall’s Execution Site

Bodmin Jail stands on the edge of Bodmin Moor, its ruined walls rising against the Cornish sky. For 150 years it held prisoners, and 55 executions took place within or outside its walls. The jail closed in 1927 and fell into atmospheric ruin. Now partially converted to a hotel and attraction, it offers visitors the chance to sleep where prisoners died—and where their ghosts remain.

The History

Georgian Prison

Built in 1779, Bodmin was one of the first prisons to introduce prisoner separation and controlled conditions.

Executions

The jail saw numerous public executions:

• Public hangings drew crowds
• The last public execution was 1862
• Private executions continued until 1909
• 55 people died on the gallows

Naval Use

During World War I, the prison held naval defaulters. Some never left.

Decline and Revival

After closing in 1927, the jail became a romantic ruin. Recent years have seen partial restoration, including a hotel in the former prison block.

The Hauntings

The Execution Yard

Where prisoners were hanged:

• Intense activity
• The sound of trapdoors
• Figures with ropes around necks
• Crowds of spectators
• The ritual replays

Cell Block

The surviving prison block:

• Now a hotel
• Guests report experiences
• Cell doors slam
• Figures in corridors
• The former prisoners pace their cells

Selina Wadge

The last woman executed at Bodmin (1878) for murdering her son:

• Her ghost has been seen
• Weeping and distressed
• Near the execution site
• She protests her innocence
• Her case remains controversial

The Condemned Cell

Where prisoners spent their last night:

• The most active area
• Visitors feel overwhelming fear
• The wait for death
• Prayers and despair
• Those nights repeat eternally

The Ruins

The spectacular ruined areas:

• Figures walk the walls
• Lights at night
• The atmosphere is thick
• Something watches from shadows

Modern Attraction

Bodmin Jail now offers:

• Hotel accommodation in cells
• Ghost hunts and tours
• The jail museum
• Paranormal investigation opportunities
• One of Cornwall’s most visited sites

Documented Activity

Extensive investigation has documented:

• EVP recordings
• Photographs of apparitions
• Temperature anomalies
• Poltergeist activity
• The evidence supports the reputation

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Bodmin Jail held prisoners for 150 years and executed 55 people. Its spectacular ruins on the edge of the moor have become one of Cornwall’s most visited sites. Visitors can now sleep in the cells—and discover they’re not sleeping alone.