News: 9th March, 2020
The Dana Prison, Shrewsbury (27/02/2020)
Thirteen of us braved floods and the biting cold to enjoy an absolutely fascinating tour of The Dana Prison.

There has been a prison on the site since 1793, the original building being constructed by Thomas Telford. The present prison building was constructed in 1877, and the prison took female convicts until 1922.

It was almost as cold inside the prison as out! Good job we all wrapped up!


On arrival, our guide Graham wastes no time
in putting Gwenfyl into the pillary

Our guide, nicknamed the Silver Fox, has had twenty-five years experience working in Shrewsbury Prison, and he had many fascinating, and often amusing, anecdotes and stories of his time there. The guided tour was informative, interesting and at times moving.

The interior very much reminded us of the television programme ‘Porridge’

In 2005 Shrewsbury prison was named as the most overcrowded in England and Wales. In August 2008 the prison had 178 places in use but held 326 inmates. Shockingly, these old Victorian, single occupancy, cells had to hold up to three inmates!

Before closure, Shrewsbury was a Category B/C prison accepting adult males from the local courts in its catchment area. Accommodation at the prison consisted of double occupancy cells in mostly Victorian buildings. In January 2013, it was announced that the prison was scheduled for closure. The last inmates were transferred from Shrewsbury to other prisons.

Executions

The Dana Prison has a long history of capital punishment. Until 1868 hangings were conducted from the main gate so the public could watch!

Between 1902 and 1961 seven people were executed by hanging within the walls of HMP Shrewsbury for the crime of murder.

In all, 71 men and two women were executed between 1795 and 1961.

The last hanging in 1961 was conducted by Harry Allen. This was of George Riley for the murder of his neighbour Adeline Mary Smith in a bungled robbery attempt. George Riley was 21 years old at the time of his execution.

Door to the condemned cell… next to the execution room

Executions took place at 8.00 am. All executed prisoners were buried in unmarked graves inside the prison, as was customary. The four executions which took place during the 1950s were all conducted by Albert Pierrepoint!

We checked out the prison food on arrival…
and prison transport, before making our way home.