Blog

Beast of Bodmin colouring sheet download

06 December 2024

Calling all artists...

Get ready to embark on a captivating journey into the realm of mythical beasts. As we gear up to celebrate the mesmerising Beast of Bodmin Carnival on…

Read more

Why visit Bodmin Jail this Halloween

04 October 2024

Self-Guided Entry and The Haunted Gallery

Visitors can begin their Halloween journey with Self-Guided Entry to Bodmin Jail, allowing them to explore the eerie corridors and learn about the rich…

Read more

Halloween Traditions and Their Origins

03 October 2024

The practice of trick-or-treating originates in the winding history of Samhain, where communities would leave food offerings at their doorsteps to appease restless spirits. English children would go ‘guiding’ or…

Read more

The History of Halloween

03 October 2024

Halloween traces its roots back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celts and their festival of Samhain.

Celebrated on the evening of October 31st, Samhain marked the end of the…

Read more

'Jack the Ripper' in Bodmin Jail?

04 May 2024

The paranoia and fear this name created caused accusations and suspicions across the country as a whole, Cornwall not being left out. The County saw a few men arrested and…

Read more

Twilight Tours – Entertaining Executions

10 April 2024

You may be aware that here at Bodmin Jail we hanged 55 prisoners by a mixture of short drop & long drop hanging executions. If you’ve visited us previously, then…

Read more

Bodmin Jail wins international Tripadvisor award

26 March 2024

Bodmin Jail has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travellers’ Choice award winner for attractions.

The coveted award celebrates businesses that have consistently received great reviews over the last…

Read more

Lights Out! Bodmin Jail Unveils the Ultimate Half-Term Thrill

08 February 2024

Bodmin Jail invites thrill-seekers and the bravest among us to experience the spine-chilling allure of "Lights Out!" – the Southwest's latest scare attraction. Set against the backdrop of the jail's…

Read more

Christmas in a Victorian prison

11 December 2023

Here are some aspects of how Christmas might have been observed in a Victorian prison:

1. A Bleak Environment: Prisons in the Victorian era were often grim and harsh places.…

Read more

Unveiling the Enigmatic Origins of Krampus: A Dive into the Dark Side of Holiday Folklore

04 December 2023

The Ancient Roots

The tale of Krampus finds its roots in pre-Christian Alpine traditions, where the winter solstice was celebrated with various rituals to ward off evil spirits. One such…

Read more

Unwrapping the Magic: The Origins of Santa's Reindeer

27 November 2023

The Oldest Reindeer Herder: Sámi People

The story of Santa's reindeer begins with the indigenous Sámi people, who have herded and domesticated reindeer for centuries. The Sámi, who reside in…

Read more

A Dickensian Delight: Celebrating Christmas Victorian Style

20 November 2023

Deck the Halls


One of the most iconic symbols of a Victorian Christmas is the Christmas tree. Popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were depicted with their family…

Read more

100 Years, 100 Stories: Our brand new immersive exhibition

01 February 2023

Selina Wadge was 28 years old on Thursday 15th August 1887 when she left the condemned cell at Bodmin Jail and made the short walk to the hanging spot, the…

Read more

The History & Origins of Krampus

05 December 2022

It was the night before the feast of St Nicholas and children are leaving their shoes outside in hopes that upon waking, they will find sweets and presents. But some…

Read more

The History of Halloween

30 October 2022

Before the church and the candy companies, the plastic skeletons and food shaped like body parts there was the Celtic holiday of Samhain and the celebration of the Dark. So,…

Read more