A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS COMES TO LIFE WITH A NEW ‘NAUGHTY OR NICE TOUR’, ST. NICHOLAS AND CAROLS AT BODMIN JAIL THIS DECEMBER

This December Bodmin Jail invites people to take a festive jaunt through the Victorian period as we meet the naughty or nice of the 1800s. With a focus on Christmas crimes and criminals, a NEW ‘Naughty or Nice’ seasonal guided tour will take visitors from debtors’ jails to the workhouses, the impact of Charles Dickens on the plight of the poor and the public fascination with a Christmas execution.

Published on 23 November 2021

As part of the Victorian Christmas theme at the jail visitors will discover that it wasn’t just stockings that were hung at Yuletide nor was goodwill shown to all people but that even in the depth of a Victorian winter a little Christmas cheer could still be found. The new seasonal ‘Naughty or Nice’ guided tour runs at 2pm every day from 13th December to 31st December and lasts 2 hours.

Bodmin Jail Attraction will also be telling the story of Saint Nicholas with the man who became known as Santa Claus welcoming visitors. Nicholas was the unchallenged bringer of gifts and the toast of celebrations in December. St Nicholas will be popping up for all those booking standard jail entry and ‘The Dark Walk’ award-winning immersive experience. 

To build the Christmas period further, the jail celebrates that Christmas Carols were sung by prisoners at the jail and this year the jail is hosting a sing-along Christmas Carol evening in the courtyard on Sunday 19th December starting at 6pm. The event is in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance and free to attend.

Alison Warren, General Manager explains; “We are looking forward to decking our cells with festive spirit this Christmas and welcoming visitors to Cornwall, families and locals alike to enjoy a Victorian Christmas. We will warm your heart and chill your bones all at the same time. December is a special time at the jail and the team can’t wait to bring to life the ghosts of Christmas past”

The new ‘Naughty or Nice Tour’ will cover the following history:

History:                        1812-1870 - Charles Dickens

                                    1843 - A Christmas Carol      

                                    1863 - Samuel Glasson

                                    1867 - Sweet Fanny Adams and Frederick Baker

                                    1868 - Capital Punishments Amendment Act

                                    1869 - Debtor’s Act

                                    1885 - Mr Babbacombe Lee ‘The man they couldn't hang.’

                                    1890 - Mary Pearcey