May 13th 2026 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Shepton Mallet Prison has a dark legal history. As one of England's oldest prisons, it has housed all manner of villains, from treasonous rebels to monstrous baby-farmers. This macabre legal legacy has left a supernatural mark on the building. Legend has it that there is a ghost in every corner. Famous spectres include the White Lady, who can be seen gliding through the cells. You may even spy a WW2 soldier in full uniform standing mournfully in the courtyard. Both are said to be ex-prisoners, solemnly reliving their final days before their executions.

This gruesome and ghoulish legal history makes it the perfect place to learn about creepy legal cases! Throughout history, people have believed in strange and fantastical creatures, from aliens to zombies and everything in between. On occasion, these beliefs have led them to commit bizarre and terrible crimes, and when the offender appears before the judge and jury, their beliefs cannot be ignored. Instead, they must be subjected to the same harsh legal scrutiny as any other case.

So join criminal barrister and ghost-enthusiast Naomi Ryan for a journey into this strange area of law, in which the Fortean meets the forensic, the bizarre is examined by barristers, and the strange is investigated by the state. Learn about a whole array of weird cases, including witches leaking war secrets, ghosts solving their own murders, and bloody judges terrorising the local area!

Tickets £10 including a arrival drink - pre booking required