History
A little history...The original jail was built for King George III in 1779. The Jail you see today was built by the prisoners who brought the 20,000 tons of granite from Bodmin`s “Cuckoo Quarry”. During the First World War the Jail held state papers and the Doomsday book.
Visit the cold dank cells, look up at the thin light filtering through a small barred window and imagine being sentenced to even a week in such desolation, a very lonely life with the knowledge each day would bring more of the same cold, hunger and hard labour, on the treadmill as a civil prisoner or “cannon ball” catch for naval prisoners; designed to keep you fit for battle on your release.
Building the future
Bodmin Jail is a unique heritage asset which has been allowed to decay until the Wheten family bought the site in the summer of 2004. They are ploughing all the revenue from entrance fees and profits from the shop and business as a whole back into the Jail with a ten year plan to revive this infamous Jail; by replacing roofs, internal structures and showing the cells as they once were, whilst also incorporating a museum of Cornish life over the last three centuries.
Our vision is to take it “Back to the Future” where it will become the thriving, vibrant mirror image of the past, a legacy of Cornish history for all to enjoy, a truly memorable day out! Helping Bodmin town, once the capital of Cornwall, to become the historic capital again.
Help us to put Bodmin back on the map!
Thank you.