Discover life behind bars as an 18th Century prisoner in the heart of Cornwall. Explore the many cells and features that make your visit to the Jail a fun and educational adventure, and just a little bit scary! Bodmin Jail was originally built for King George III in 1779; the Jail you see today was built with the help of the prisoners who brought 20,000 tons of granite from Bodmin’s Cuckoo Quarry. Visitors can wander through the depths of the Jail, over five levels, and browse creative exhibits depicting penal life in Victorian Cornwall. Be sure to visit the Execution Shed; a fully restored, 4.5 meter deep, Victorian hanging pit. This is the only hanging pit in the UK and the site of the last man executed in Cornwall. Marvel at the building’s unique design, architecture, and engineering; from the inspired heating and cooling systems constructed to keep the Jail environment comfortable, to the striking carved wood paneling and period features of the Old Chapel; now housing our popular Governors Hall restaurant.
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