Bodmin Jail
Address
Bodmin Jail Berrycoombe Road Bodmin PL31 2NR
Contact
A World-class indoor attraction bringing Cornish history to life. Immerse yourself in Cornwall's Dark History in our new 'Dark Walk' with state of the art theatrical effects that bring some of the grimmest stories vividly to life.
An experience for all the family
Bodmin Jail is an experience for the family (please refer to our website for our family recommendations), or for the daring who want to discover the paranormal.
The Jail is steeped in both social and architectural history, offers guests an amazing insight into Cornish penal life over the centuries. Discover life behind bars as an 18th century prisoner in the heart of Cornwall. Explore the many cells and features that make your visit to the Jail a fun and educational adventure, and just a little bit scary!
The ‘Dark Walk’, the first of its kind in Cornwall, uses theatrical effects and the latest technology to transport visitors back to Cornwall’s murky past, enabling a first-hand experience of the penal life of a working 18th and 19th-century prison on the fringes of the windswept Bodmin Moor.
Retold for 21st-century audiences, the haunting cinematic visual experience will tell stories of smuggling, mining and the everyday hardships facing Cornwall’s poorest, including tales from infamous prisoners.
Bodmin Jail was originally built for King George III in 1779; the Jail you see today was built with the help of the prisoners who brought 20,000 tons of granite from Bodmin’s Cuckoo Quarry. Visitors can wander through the depths of the Jail and browse creative exhibits depicting penal life in Victorian Cornwall.
Are you brave enough?
Visitors face a cold walk into the jail's original Naval Wing, getting a first-hand look at what the dreary days and nights behind bars were really like. Grimy cells, prison punishments and stories of child criminals take centre stage as visitors wander through these formidable buildings.
Be sure to visit the Execution Shed; a fully restored, 4.5m deep, Victorian hanging pit. This is the only hanging pit in the UK and the site of the last man executed in Cornwall.
Do you dare to spend a night in the UK’s most haunted location? After Dark packages are available for over 18’s only. Check out our website for details and dates.
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