Your Ghost Hunt at Ashwell Prison
Ashwell Prison is a vast sprawling location and as night falls the chilling isolation of this foreboding prison becomes even more evident. Past ghost hunts here have given the Haunted Happenings Team and guests some harrowing experiences with cell doors being opened by unseen hands, shadowy figures watching from the upper balcony wings and objects witnessed moving themselves across the floor.
Locked behind towering secure fences the thought of what lies in wait inside this daunting complex is a real challenge for even the most experienced ghost hunters.
Ghosts of Ashwell Prison
Ashwell Prison is an abandoned prison built on the site of a WW2 American air base. This sprawling secure prison has had numerous reports of unexplained activity told to Haunted Happenings by staff who once worked within the walls of HMP Ashwell.
Voices are heard to call from the now abandoned cells, footsteps can be heard to pace the upper landings numerous accounts of dark shadows being seen along with objects being moved by unseen hands.
Join the team for an overnight ghost hunt locked inside former HMP Ashwell in Haunted Leicestershire.
History of Ashwell Prison
In February, 1944 the US 82nd Airborne Division set up base at Ashwell. The riggers of the 82nd Parachute Maintenance Company immediately got to work. Their job was to pack and repair parachutes for training at the 'jump school'. The 505, 507, 508 and the parachute infantry regiments trained at the nearby airfield in preparation for the Normandy jump.
In 1955 Ashwell Prison opened, originally as an open prison for men. In 1987 it was converted into a secure Category C adult male prison.
Ashwell Prison featured in the news in 2003 as inmates rioted causing thousands of pounds worth of damage as they barricaded themselves into one of the wings and began destroying the contents, eventually control was regained and order restored.
In July 2008 a new £6m wing with an additional 64 cells was opened at Ashwell Prison. The new wing increased the overall capacity of the prison to 619 inmates.
Another major riot begain on 11 April 2009 at 1am. During the riot, a three-mile police perimeter was put in place. Several prisoners were evacuated from the prison. The riot was successfully brought under control at 22:45pm that day. The operation launched by authorities in response to the riot was called Operation Tornado. which saw the introduction of specialist riot trained prison staff. Three prisoners were injured and 75 per cent of the prison was made uninhabitable. The riot started when a prisoner, serving a three-year sentence, confronted staff and refused to return to his room. He began to cause damage and was joined by others. The unrest spread quickly throughout the prison and approximately 400 prisoners are thought to have participated.
The damage done to three of the old wings was substantial. The rest of the prison was either undamaged or sustained superficial damage. The event provoked questioning of the UK's overcrowded prison system leading to Category B prisoners' downgrading so that they can be moved to Category C prisons. In January 2011, it was announced that Ashwell Prison was to close, as the cost of repairing and maintaining the building was too high. The prison formally closed at the end of March 2011, when all inmates were transferred to other prisons.
In January 2013, Rutland County Council announced that it had finalised a deal to buy the land in order to convert parts of the site into a business park. The site was redeveloped throughout 2013, with some accommodation blocks damaged during the riots were demolished and new units built in their place.
The remainder of Ashwell Prison as it stands today is a vast location, which has a strange and eerie feel to it. You almost get a sense of those imprisoned here by the way that the prison is sectioned, housing some of society's most dangerous criminals.
Your Event Includes
- Please bring camping chairs/fold up chair for your own comfort. This location has limited seating
- Use of ghost hunting equipment including EMF Meters, K2 Meters etc.
- Experiments including glass divination, table tipping and Ouija Boards.
- Workshop and separate vigils for returning guests.
- Ghost hunting vigils and séances in small groups.
- Includes teas and coffees
- Free time to investigate alone
Address, Maps & Hotels
Address & Hotel Information
Ashwell Prison
Enterprise Park
Unit 9 Ashwell Road
Oakham
Rutland
Leicestershire
LE15 7TU
For Hotels near to
Ashwell Prison , please click here. opens in a new window
Parking
Information
Accessibility
- This location is not suitable for wheelchair users
- This location is not suitable for people with mobility issues or walking difficulties
Important
- All attendees must be 18 years or older
- All attendees must bring a torch
- Wear sensible shoes and warm layered clothing as the location may get cold at night
