We had a fascinating visit to HMP Shepton Mallet yesterday with our fellow Chippenham WI friends, and we're pleased to report everyone managed to get out afterwards! Our two-hour long tour led by former prison warder Graham was fascinating. He had a fund of tales from his own experience, plus extras garnered from visitors since the prison closed in 2013. We learned what hard labour meant at the prison in the 1800s, where work such as the treadmill installed to human power corn milling led to the phrase 'turning the screw' (how the speed of the treadmill was regulated) and the nickname 'screws' for prison warders. Who knew that 'cop' is derived from 'constable on patrol' and 'pulling the leg' and 'pull the other one' are from the subsequent actions taken for less successful executions? There are ghosts at Shepton Mallet and Graham has seen them. We all rushed up to the gatekeeper's rooms to see if we could experience the sudden cold chill that is said to come on there. Sadly it remained hot from the recent spell of weather we've been having. The more nimble amongst us also bent down to see the prison cells dating back to the 1600s. 'The white lady' and the American GIs also failed to make appearances. Famous names associated with the prison are the Kray twins (on remand in Shepton for 1 month before they achieved gangster notoriety) and Albert Pierrepont, the hangman associated with many famous executions. One execution tale was from when Shepton was an American military prison during WWII. A black GI was found guilty of raping a married woman. It turned out it was an act of revenge by the husband when he found out about their affair. Sadly she arrived at the prison early on the day of execution to declare the GI's innocence, only to find he'd been executed at 1am. We also got a glimpse of what more recent conditions were like as a crew were set decorating ready for filming a new drama, which brought the surrounding bare cells we'd been exploring to life. Then it was onto Street for lunch and shopping at the Outlet Village, plus exploration of the Shoe Museum, renamed the 'Shoeseum' by one member of our party! Thanks to April for all her hard work in organising another wonderful trip!