| Summary : Prison - new buildings 1818-19 and perimeter wall. By 1625 the Shepton Mallet House of Correction was in full use. Cornhill House and one acre of land had been purchased for this purpose. Major repairs were made to the prison in 1646. In 1790 the site was enlarged as the gatelodge and cottages to the rear of the prison were purchased. Much of the prison was rebuilt at this time and the Keeper's House erected, incorporating part of the boundary wall. The pre-1817 prison was a haphazard group of buildings arranged along Cornhill on the north side of the present site. They included accommodation for the keeper and his family, a magistrate's room, a chapel and rooms for female inmates. Between 1817 and 1820 adaptations were made and two wings erected. A treadwheel was installed in 1823, the mill building standing outside the prison wall. In 1903 the treadwheel house was converted into an industrial shop. Between 1830 and 1832 much of the prison was rebuilt. A 1843 scheme saw the erection of the present A Wing, B Wing and the hospital/reception range. In 1848 the present C Wing and chapel were built. Fire engulfed the prison in 1904 neccessitating the reconstruction of all three wings. By 1930 the prison was closed upon the recommendation of the Prison Commission. In 1938 parts of the Public Record Office were moved to the prison. In 1940 the prison was occupied by the Royal Pioneer Corps. In 1942 it was taken over by United States forces for use as detention quarters. A new execution house was built adjoining the main prison blocks. After World War II the prison was returned to the British Army. In 1966 it returned to being a civilian prison, and it is probably in the following years that the kitchen/chapel block and factory block were erected. |
More information : (ST 62124362 - sited from HHR Map)
ST6243 SHEPTON MALLET CP CORN HILL (South side)
7/92 HM Prison and perimeter wall
II*
Prison. Originally built 1610, new buildings 1818-1819 by George
Allen Underwood, major alterations 1830, 1843 and 1848 by Richard
Carver. Render, rusticated to ground floor, slate hipped roof, wide
eaves. Austere classical facade. 4-storeys, 3-bays, sashes with
glazing bars in segmental headed stone architraves with emphasised
keystones. Central doorway, plain stone surround with moulded cornice
above, entrance now blocked. Plain stone band below first floor
windows, moulded band above those to third floor. Massive ashlar
gateway to right side having square head door opening with moulded
jambs, cut stone brackets supporting cornice directly above, all set
in larger elaborately moulded stone architrave with semi-circular
head incorporating barred fanlight. Late C20 double doors. To left
side 3-storey wing of 1-bay, blocked semi-circular headed archway to
ground floor, narrow barred windows in plain stone architraves above.
Further 4-storey wing of 3-bays to its left with similar fenestration. Rubble 8 metre high wall running to left and right sides along Gaol Lane and Frithfield Lane enclosing perimiter of prison compound. House of Correction until 1884 when it became the County Gaol. (1)
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