PRISON VISIT

One of the famous, or should I say infamous, sights in Shepton is the exterior of the prison with its imposing natural stone walls, barred windows and huge doorways! We often go around some of the perimeter on our walks, but today we took particularly note, as yesterday, I had been inside!

Jenny tries to get in!

HM Prison Shepton Mallet was the oldest working jail in England until it was closed down in 2013 due to Government cutbacks.  It has been bought by City and Country who are in the throes of public consultation to find a new use for it.  Yesterday, was their second public consultation and a chance to look around.

A look inside!

For those who are interested full details are available on their excellent website, including some suggested plans for development.  Some of it, including the walls, is Grade II listed and has to be retained but other more modern and ugly areas are likely to be pulled down and rebuilt as housing and commercial use.  No decisions have been made yet, but at 4 acres, it is a big site, so whatever is done, it is likely to make an impact on the centre of Shepton.

Jenny's grandad was the boiler man at the prison many years ago and more recently a friend of mine was a volunteer helping the prisoners with their tapestry and needlework!  There must be many others  around who have had connections with the prison.  If so, we would love to hear your story!


It was damp and dreary again for our walk today, but still muggy. Wearing waterproofs make you even hotter, so recently when I get back I have been having a pineapple and mint drink.  I put a large slice of fresh pineapple, with the outside cut off, in a high speed blender with water, ice and fresh mint from the garden.  In no time at all, I can relax with a refreshing drink!  Cheers!!

This house is just by the prison's perimeter wall.  Jenny and I look at lots of front gardens on our walks and this is one of our favourites.  It is full of interesting bits of furniture, bric-a-brac, sculptures  as well as lovely flowers and really sets this house off.  With the light sprinkling of rain this morning it was looking lush so we just had to photograph it!  Jenny finds it inspirational, as she is looking for ideas for her back garden!

And finally, on our way home we spotted some unusual residents in the town centre. These pigeons seem to have made the empty flat above our local ironmongery, Dredge and Male, their home!