'When it held prisoners, it was quite reassuring the prison officers could often be seen walking the paths and perimeter of the gaol.' Doubts about housing plans turning area into 'builder's yard' 'If there was ever a zombie apocalypse I'd walk across the road with my daughter and hide in the prison. 'At first the large wall had an impact on my vision, but it shelters the property and makes me feel safe. 'If anyone escaped they wouldn't hang around and hide in my garden, they'd be long gone. 'It's not really impacted on me living here. Mr Vernoum said: 'When I was looking at moving here I had a couple of friends say 'won't it be unsafe next to a prison?' but it's probably the safest place to be. Mark Vernoum, 57, has lived in Gaol Lane for the past 25 years and a lot of things have changed in that time.

Given all that spooky history, if you lived right next to the prison - looking at its 75 feet tall walls, topped with barbed wire every day - how would you feel?

It has housed civilian and military prisoners over the centuries - including the London gangsters, The Kray Twins, in the early 1950s after they deserted the British Army. Until its closure in 2013 as a working gaol it held up to 189 prisoners and is listed as a Grade II building.įamous for its ghosts - believed to be those of prisoners executed at the site - and for storing national treasures and public records during the Second World War, it is currently used for ghost tours and has planning permission to develop the site for housing.Įvery now and then film crews come to town, from the Paddington movies to gritty dramas about serial killers starring David Tennant, to make the most of the historic cells and bring the past to life. In the middle of a thriving market town in Somerset stands the impressive building of HM Prison Shepton Mallet. Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice

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