Derby Old Gaol Ghost Hunts Derby
Derby Gaol is a notorious building in Derby, known for its paranormal activity and considered one of the most haunted buildings in England. It was built in 1756 and was the second of three county jails in the area. The Gaol was a place of terror, torment, and death, housing hundreds of prisoners who were brutally executed and incarcerated in terrible conditions while awaiting their trials. The Gaol has a dark history, with over 200 hanging offences in England for minor crimes such as poaching and stealing. Many prisoners were held at Derby Old Gaol before meeting their untimely death by the hangman’s rope. The building has witnessed many tragic events, including the sad demise of two Brothers who took their own lives in their cell the night before their trial to avoid a gruesome execution the following morning. The Gaol is believed to be haunted by tormented souls and ghosts, with the original cell doors showing markings where prisoners engraved effigies and carved their names before their execution. The Gaol is a place of paranormal activity, with phantom fragrances, strange moving lights, and eerie sounds of scraping and dragging within the darkness. Objects have been recorded moving during investigations, and the sound of the bolts on the old cell doors being pulled open has been heard. The building has a strange and oppressive feel, particularly at nightfall, with smoky mists, shadows, and dark apparitions being witnessed. The Gaol is a building worth exploring, and visitors can join ghost hunts and paranormal investigations to communicate with the many souls and energies thought to remain forever inside this creepy and atmospheric old Gaol in the heart of the haunted city of Derby.
History of Derby Gaol
The old gaol in Friar Gate has a particularly gruesome past. Today, all that survive the original prison are its cells, which now form part of a working museum that tells the story of its gruesome history.
The cells are also haunted and form part of a famous city ghost walk. People can even stay in the cells overnight.
The gaol first opened in 1756. It replaced one in the Cornmarket, and materials from that building were used to construct the Friar Gate gaol, which was deliberately sited close to Nun's Green. In this place, executions had traditionally taken place.
The gaol was not meant to hold prisoners for an extended time but to be a holding pen for the courts or the gallows. By the end of 1756, the new building was up and running with its first prisoners. It was designed to house a maximum of 29 prisoners - including those destined for execution.
Its capacity was later extended due to something called the Bloody Code (1770 to 1830), which saw people hanged in England for a whole range of minor crimes. Capital offences included stealing cheese geese and breaking into a weaving shop.
Records show that there were 58 hangings carried out at the gaol between 1756 and 1825, including the Pentrich Martyrs of 1817, who were executed on charges of treason in front of the building following their failed revolution. However, a far grander building was used as a gaol near Vernon Street, and the Friar Gate gaol closed in 1846.
As for the Vernon Street gaol, in 1886, it was renamed, HMP Derby. It lasted until 1919 when most of the building was demolished.
Until 1929 the remaining part was used as a military prison, and by 1930 the area behind the frontage had been converted into a greyhound stadium which lasted until 1988.
Investigating with the Paranormal Eye UK Team throughout the evening
Exclusive access after dark
Group Vigils
Séances
Spiritual Medium during the investigation
Working in Small Groups, Using an array of different equipment and techniques
Complimentary Tea, Coffee,
Complimentary light snacks
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Experience the thrill of ghost hunting at Derby Gaol with the Paranormal Eye Team. This spine-chilling adventure will put your nerves to the test as you venture into the darkness after sunset. Spend the night inside the hauntingly dark gaol, where lost souls and eerie spirits wander the cells. Join us for a ghost hunting experience like no other, as we delve into the paranormal investigations of this historic location.
