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28/03/2013
Service Held As UK's Oldest Prison Closes
The UK's oldest working prison is to close today, with a service taking place to mark the event.
The prison in Shepton Mallet was one of seven closures announced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in January.
It said is wanted to drive down the cost of running "old and uneconomic" prisons. With the closures, the MoJ expects to save £63m a year.
Former staff of the prison will join the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Reverend Peter Price and a military band at the service. Following the service, church bells in Shepton Mallet will ring at noon – when staff leave the prison for the final time.
The 189 inmates of the prison have been relocated. Most of those are serving life for murder, with the rest serving long sentences for serious sexual offences.
A prison has been on the Shepton Mallet site since 1610.
(JP/CD)
The prison in Shepton Mallet was one of seven closures announced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in January.
It said is wanted to drive down the cost of running "old and uneconomic" prisons. With the closures, the MoJ expects to save £63m a year.
Former staff of the prison will join the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Reverend Peter Price and a military band at the service. Following the service, church bells in Shepton Mallet will ring at noon – when staff leave the prison for the final time.
The 189 inmates of the prison have been relocated. Most of those are serving life for murder, with the rest serving long sentences for serious sexual offences.
A prison has been on the Shepton Mallet site since 1610.
(JP/CD)
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