Ever wondered what it really took to survive life behind bars? Shepton Mallet Prison is throwing open its gates for a series of Living History Days to mark a jaw-dropping 400 years since it first locked up its inmates.

First opened in 1625, the notorious Somerset prison – once home to highwaymen, murderers and even American military personnel – is celebrating its big anniversary by plunging visitors deep into the grim, gritty past of incarceration.

The special events will take place on every bank holiday throughout 2025, kicking off on Monday 5th May. Expect chains, chamber pots and chilling tales as you explore the jail's dark history from the Jacobean era right up to its closure in the 21st century.

What's in store?

• Costumed characters will roam the corridors, re-enacting the lives of former inmates and sharing the brutal realities of their daily routines.
• Get a taste of hard time as you experience punishments, prison food, disease and the filthy conditions prisoners endured.
• Try your hand at oakum picking, step into the pillories, and discover just how grim justice used to be.
• Explore the prison's little-known role during the Second World War, when it was used by the U.S. military.
• And don't miss a chat with Mrs Johnson, who'll spill the beans on forgotten stories and a mysterious "secret hoard".

With 400 years of secrets waiting behind the walls, it's a day out that promises plenty of shivers, history and hands-on experience.

Tickets are £15 for adults – and kids go free. So if you fancy seeing if you'd survive a stretch in one of the UK's oldest jails, this might be your chance.

For more information or to book, visit Shepton Mallet Prison's official website.