Uncover the Mysteries

Shrewsbury Prison

There has been a prison on the site since 1793, the original building being constructed by Thomas Telford to plans by Shrewsbury architect John Hiram Haycock; the present prison building was constructed in 1877. The prison took female convicts until 1922.

For 20 years, Samuel Webster Allen was the Roman Catholic chaplain at the prison before being made the Bishop of Shrewsbury in 1897. Former Wales Rugby Union international player John Strand-Jones was the part-time Church of England chaplain from 1930 to 1934.

Between 1902 and 1961 the following seven people were executed by hanging within the walls of HMP Shrewsbury for the crime of murder:

• Richard Wigley, aged 34 years, on Tuesday, 18th of March 1902, for the murder of his girlfriend Mary Ellen Bowen.
• William Griffiths, aged 57 years, on Tuesday, 24th of July 1923, for the murder of his mother Catherine Hughes.
• Frank Griffin, aged 40 years, on Thursday, 4th of January 1951, for the murder of Jane Edge.
• Harry Huxley, aged 43 years, on Tuesday, 8th of July 1952, for the murder of his girlfriend Ada Royce.
• Donald Neil Simon, aged 32 years, on Thursday, 23rd of October 1952, for the murders of his estranged wife Eunice Simon and her lover Victor Brades.
• Desmond Donald Hooper, aged 27 years, on Tuesday, 26 January 1954, for the murder of Betty Smith.
• George Riley aged 21 years on Thursday, 9 February 1961, for the murder of his neighbour Adeline Mary Smith

Millstreet Barracks

The building was designed as the headquarters of the 47th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps and completed in 1861. This unit evolved to become the 21st Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1880, the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) in 1886 and the 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment in 1908. The battalion was mobilised at the barracks in August 1914 before being deployed to the Western Front and was still based there at the start of the Second World War.

The battalion converted to form the 61st (5th Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1940. This unit evolved to become the 612th Regiment, Royal Artillery (The South Lancashire Regiment) in 1945, the 596th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (The South Lancashire Regiment) in 1947 and the 436th (South Lancashire Artillery) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1955. The presence at the barracks was reduced to a single battery, 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Light Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1969. After the battery moved to more modern facilities at Jubilee Barracks, the Mill Street Barracks were decommissioned and converted for use by the Sea Cadets as the Training Ship Scimitar.

Ordsall Hall

Ordsall Hall is a large former manor house in the historic parish of Ordsall, Lancashire, England, now part of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester. It dates back more than 750 years, although the oldest surviving parts of the present hall were built in the 15th century. The most important period of Ordsall Hall’s life was as the family seat of the Radclyffe family, who lived in the house for more than 300 years. The hall was the setting for William Harrison Ainsworth’s 1842 novel Guy Fawkes, written around the plausible although unsubstantiated local story that the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was planned in the house.

Llanfylin Workhouse

The Workhouse is owned, managed and supported by the Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation. Built in 1837, this imposing stone building served as a workhouse for up to 250 inmates until 1930, when it became a local authority institution and later a care home.

It finally closed in 1983. The Union Workhouse, which is slowly be developed into a community centre, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a school master. The master is most frequently seen in the building’s centrepiece, an area which was original his private quarters. He’s often seen looking out of the windows where he would have once been able to oversee the workhouse’s four recreation yards.

Visitors have reported hearing footsteps, doors slamming, children crying,and the ghostly cries and shrieks of a classrooms full of children. There’s also be claims of shadowy figures, and even he full body apparition of an old school master who is said to haunt the building. There is also the opportunity to spend the night at this location.

Kirkstone Pass Inn

The Kirkstone Pass Inn was built in 1496, and for over four centuries was known as The Travellers Rest.

The original Inn offered respite for people making the long journey through Cumbria into Scotland.

In the 19th century, the building was extended to accommodate more than a few travellers and was renamed The Kirkstone Pass Inn. The rest of the history of this Inn may seem unimpressive. However, what is impressive is the number of ghosts said to haunt this mountain Inn. Besides the ghost of Ruth Ray, other phantoms have been reported haunting the Inn. Not all of them are as friendly as Ruth Ray.

​

The ghost of a little boy who was killed by a coach in the 17th century has been seen playing outside the main entrance where he died. The terrifying specter of a grey lady has been known to scream in the face of people who get to close to her.

The spirit of a hiker who worked in the bar is believed to be behind the high-spirited hijinks said to happen in the bar, this spirit has been known to throw bowls and break glasses by pushing them off the table.

Mystery Locations

For more info on our mystery locations, please contact us!