Dorchester Prison, a place of pure Victorian detention, is a grim and imposing structure that still stands tall to this day. But what many don't know is that this prison is also haunted, and the terror within its walls is enough to make even the bravest soul tremble.GHT, the experts in ghost hunts and paranormal investigations, offer a unique opportunity to explore the haunted depths of this notorious prison. Walking up to the main entrance, the motto "Holding the key to a brighter future" is a mocking reminder to those who are about to be locked away. The tiny cells are a real eye-opener, with their damp and blackspot-covered walls, metal bunk beds, and stainless steel toilets that offer no privacy. The whole wing feels claustrophobic, with cages all around and just enough room for one person on the walkways. And while much of the prison is locked down, there are still pockets that are open for exploration. The stained glass cross in the chapel, for instance, is a chilling reminder of the lives that were once lived - and lost - within these walls. Make no mistake, Dorchester Prison is not a place for the faint of heart. 

Elizabeth Martha Brown a grocer aged 45 and mother of two was the last woman to be hanged in public in Dorset and was executed outside Dorchester Prison in 1856. She was convicted of the murder of her second husband, John Brown, on July 22, the prosecution said she had attacked him with an axe after he had taken a whip to her.

Thomas Hardy, a young lad of 16 years and who later went on to become a world-famous writer and poet was among the crowd of 3,000 or so who witnessed the hanging of Elizabeth Martha Brown. He wrote 70 years later that he was ashamed to have been there and the hanging of Tess in Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) is undoubtedly inspired by his experience of watching Brown’s death.

James Seale was the last person to be hung at the gates of Dorchester prison on 10th August 1858. He was tried and found guilty of murder and his name went into the history books as the last man to be hanged in public in Dorset. The Victorian age could no longer tolerate public executions as entertainment.

Dorchester prison was operated by Her Majesty’s Prison Service serving the Crown and Magistrates’ courts in Dorset and some in Somerset until 2013.

The prison received adult male and young adult male prisoners direct from the Crown Courts at Dorchester, Poole and Bournemouth and associated magistrates’ courts. The Prison operated as a Level 4 establishment and the population is made up of roughly half convicted prisoners, and half remanded inmates. Whilst there prisoners can participate in new skills courses such as catering and industrial cleaning whilst the physical education department offers recognised qualifications for a variety of health and training programmes.

Improvements were made following the 2007 inspection report from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons which had stated there were too many inmates, and too little investment in the prison buildings and facilities.  Conditions improved to an extent, and the prison which has a capacity for 252 was awarded ‘Most Improved Prison for 2008′. The prison was closed in 2013 and sits awaiting development.

But with GHT leading the way, those brave enough to venture within its haunted halls can expect an unforgettable and truly chilling experience.From 20.00 pm -03.00 am#GhostHunt #ParanormalInvestigation #Haunted #Supernatural #Horror #RestlessSpirits#ChillingEncounters #BraveEnough #ghosthuntertours #dorchester