PRESS BRIEF – EMBARGOED until 2 January 2021
We believe that we have a really positive opportunity that we can offer Paranormal groups, especially as Somerset is believed to be by Archaeologists the oldest county in the UK, having over 5000 listed buildings with many incredible stories to tell.
Visit Somerset went on to say: “The recent inspiration came from a meeting with Shepton Mallet prison, when the CEO of Visit Somerset was been taken round on a guided tour. He was completely inspired by the work the Prison has already completed with Paranormal groups in what is alleged to be possibly the most haunted prison in the UK. With history of seven executions, and the Kray twins. It is believed there could be an estimated £2 million of potential income that we could coordinate generating on behalf of our members moving forward”.
Joel Campbell CEO of the Campbell Group that runs the Shepton Prison attraction has said: " “We are very pleased to be partnering with Visit Somerset to raise awareness of the paranormal world in Somerset and look forward to hosting the launch at Shepton Mallet Prison
Shepton Mallet Prison is the most haunted prison in the World; as such it attracts 1000’s of ghost hunters who visit to investigate the paranormal activity. The number of reported incidents and experiences are in the 100’s, with one particular occasion standing out. A tour guide led his visitors into the execution, recounting the story of a hanging when he felt a terrible pain in his hand and saw what looked like a cigarette burn appear on his hand. The condemned man was a heavy smoker and was smoking right up until his execution. The tour guide bears the scar to this day.
Shepton Mallet prison runs ghost tours weekly, where visitors take a journey through the prison at night, experiencing real ghost encounters and stories from the prisons 400 year old past.
We also work with a number of specialist paranormal companies including Haunted Happenings who conduct paranormal investigations and ghost hunts of the prison overnight.
The prison which opened in 1625 has a long and brutal history, with 400 years of stories, encounters and experiences which make it the most haunted prison in the world".
Hazel Ford Managing Director - Haunted Happenings Ltd. “Haunted Happenings are delighted to be part of 'Visit Somerset's' plans for next year where we will be sharing our exciting paranormal experience with you all at some of your spookiest locations. We really are looking forward to welcoming you to an overnight ghost hunt in 2021 as part of a public, private or corporate experience where you become the ghost hunters for the night and hopefully manage to endure a terrifying and thrilling night of ghostly activity”.