Glavon Group Visit to Shepton Mallet Jail - 6th February 2022

The Cornhill as it was sometimes known was built in 1625 and has a fascinating history which 25 Glavonites discovered on a two hour self-guided tour on a very wet and windy day - luckily most of the tour was inside. Life behind the massive 75' high stone walls was very grim, especially in earlier years with inmates toiling all day at the treadmill, picking oakum or braking rocks. During WW2, 300 tons of priceless documents were moved there from the London Public Records office for safe keeping, including The Domesday Book and Magna Carta. After the tour, we were all released on parole to make our way to The Woolpack Inn at Beckington for an excellent Sunday lunch. Only one TR braved the torrential rain, the 4A of Chris and Jan Bryant which very rarely stays home in the garage, whatever the weather!