Room with a view

From a cell in HM Prison, The Dana, Shrewsbury:  opened in 1793, closed in 2013, last hanging here in 1961.  The Dana was a category B/C Mens' Prison.  The original building was designed by Thomas Telford and today we went on a 'Jailhouse Tour' of the old prison which was both sobering and chilling. The wet and windy weather helped to give an even more foreboding insight and atmospheric feel to the place along the draughty corridors, recreational areas and inhospitable cells, with sudden banging of doors and eerie noises.  Our Guide (an ex-Prison Officer) who worked in the prison from 1988 to its closure, was brilliant with his interesting historical knowledge, his hands on experience and his wicked sense of humour.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour but  made a firm choice to stay out of jail at all costs - in fact I don't think I'll  play Monopoly ever again!

A small Dana album here.

Footnote:  Blipper Maisiebeth does a wonderful blog, the most recent of which was her tour of the prison and her photos were excellent and it was thanks to her that I was reminded to go as the tours will finish at the end of this year.