Friday, November 15

The Ghosts Who Haunt Bodmin Jail, Cornwall: 13 Exclusive Photos

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

On a dark, dank day the bleakness of Bodmin Jail in Cornwall can send a shiver down the spine. No wonder it is the source of many paranormal experiences. The ghosts of prisoners haunt the corridors and now empty cells.

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

Bodmin Jail was built back in the reign of George III in 1777. Prisoners helped, though not necessarily willingly, to transport 20,000 tons of granite from Bodmin's Cuckoo Quarry for its erection.

Bodmin Jail cell

Today the cells are empty other than for those ghosts who walk the six floors of the jail.

Stone steps of Bodmin Jail

As I went round the jail I took most of my photos in black and white, though a few have a touch of colour like the one below.

Insode Bodmin Jail

The 10th of June, 1843 edition of the West Briton newspaper reported on Bodmin Jail saying that "The 43rd rule is that prisoners, except for debtors should have a tepid bath once in every three months."

Bath at Bodmin Jail

But not everything was to such a 'high' standard. Over 50 people were hanged, sometimes their bodies were dissected for medical research.

Hanged bodies used as medical science in Bodmin Jail

Below is a list of hangings showing the prisoners details. But sometimes the death sentence was very harsh, as in the case of a Mrs Osborne in 1813:

There was a dispute between Mr Osborne and his neighbouring farmer who had crept into Osborne's field and set fire to a mow of corn.

Mr Osborne was livid so his wife wanted revenge. Under cover of nightfall she sneaked into the other farmer's field and set a mow of his corn on fire. Unfortunately for her she was caught doing so by the police and was arrested.

The court did not believe her story and she was duly sentenced to death by hanging. She was hung on the 6th of September, 1813 when only 20 years old.

Record of hangings in early 1900s at Bodmin Jail

One of the ghosts known to haunt Bodmin Jail is that of Salina Wadge.

On the 21st of June 1878, on Altarnun Moor, two year old Henry Wadge was dropped down a well by his mother Salina. At her trial she claimed that a James Westwood said he would marry her if she got rid of her illegitimate children. Needless to say he denied this.

Salina was sentenced to death by hanging and was sent to the condemned cell at Bodmin Jail. At precisely 8 a.m on August 15th, 1878 she mounted the scaffold, her last words being, "Lord deliver me from this miserable world." Her body, clutching a white handkerchief, was left dangling for an hour before being cut down.

Ghosts at Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

Her ghost wanders the prison, where she tries to reach out to small children, who often enquire about the crying lady in the long dress.

Ghostly cell at Bodmin Jail

There are lots of weird stories from Bodmin Jail. Anne Jeffries, for instance, was thrown into prison because she was suspected of being a changeling with healing powers. She was put in solitary confinement and wasn't given any food. The strange thing is that this had no affect on her as she retained her weight and health. She claimed she was fed and cared for by fairies who visited her in her cell at night.

Photo inside Bodmin Jail

In photos there are weird shadows hidden from the eye. Wandering around the jail it's possible to imagine all sorts of things.

Below is a short video of a hanging from Bodmin Jail ...


... the equipment is still in place.

A gallows at Bodmin Jail

A final look at the outside of Bodin Jail or Gaol. I made my visit on 9th of November.

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

Other Random Posts:
The Shadow People Who Stalk Our World
The Sexual Examination Of The Witches Of Belvoir
Reincarnation: Her Small Son Had Been Killed In A Previous Life During World War 1

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5 comments:

  1. Suzie09:15

    What a scary place, but love the photos and what about getting hung for setting light to some corn, unbelievable! I can imagine the place is full of ghosts.

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  2. somewhere id like to visit. a very interesting looking building. good pics

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  3. These photos sure capture the eeriness of the place. You can almost feel the ghosts wandering around. I can't imagine being a prisoner there!

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  4. Nice photos.
    Creepy looking place.
    I would hate to have the karma that's hanging around the hangman's neck for the lives of the innocent people he hung.

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  5. Don't know why but I've become nauseous. What a strange reaction for me. Good one Mike.

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