Beaumaris Gaol, a former prison on the Isle of Anglesey, intrigues visitors with its dark history and rumours of paranormal activity lurking behind its walls
Beaumaris Gaol on the Isle of Anglesey stands as a chilling reminder of a harsher past. Built in 1829 and operational until 1878, the Grade I listed building’s foreboding walls hold the stories of some of Wales’ most infamous criminals and the dark punishments they endured.
Yet today, it is not just history that visitors seek when they pass through its doors. Rumours of ghostly apparitions, unexplained sounds, and eerie feelings suggest that some of its residents never truly left.
A Place of Punishment and Suffering
The gaol’s design, by architects Hansom and Welch, followed what was then considered modern penal reform, offering a more humane alternative to previous prisons.
But what was ‘humane’ by Victorian standards might strike us today as deeply inhumane. Prisoners were subjected to isolation, dark cells, and backbreaking labour on the gaol’s infamous treadmill, one of the few remaining functional examples in Britain.
Executions were rare but carried a particular weight. Two hangings took place at Beaumaris, both leaving an eerie legacy.
William Griffith, condemned for the attempted murder of his wife in 1830, reportedly had to be dragged to the gallows. His act of defiance perhaps echoed into the afterlife.
The second hanging, in 1862, was that of Richard Rowlands, who maintained his innocence until his final breath. From the gallows, he cursed the nearby church clock, proclaiming it would never show the same time on all four faces if he were truly innocent. To this day, locals claim the clock never aligns.
The Spirits of Beaumaris Gaol
Although Beaumaris Gaol now functions as a museum, reports of paranormal activity have made it a hotspot for ghost hunters and curious visitors alike.
Shadows flicker in the cells, cold spots appear without warning, and disembodied footsteps echo down the corridors.
One of the most famous spirits said to haunt the gaol is that of an unnamed jailer, still performing his rounds long after death.
Visitors have heard the sound of his whistling and the rattle of keys moving up and down the hallways.
The sensation of being watched is almost constant, especially near the solitary confinement cells, where some of the darkest energy is said to linger.
The execution room is especially unsettling. Many visitors report an overwhelming sense of dread upon entering the small, stark room.
Some claim to feel a cold hand brushing against them, while others hear the final murmurs of those who met their fate here. It is not uncommon for visitors to leave feeling as though they’ve been followed by something unseen.
Legends and Unanswered Questions
The stories of Beaumaris Gaol are steeped in history, but some of the most tantalising details remain unanswered.
Rowlands’ curse on the church clock continues to fascinate. Can it really be explained by mechanical failure alone, or is there something more sinister at play?
The two men buried in unmarked lime pits within the gaol walls also pose a mystery. No one knows exactly where their bodies lie, leading some to wonder if their restless spirits are doomed to wander the gaol for eternity.
Perhaps the most enduring mystery is how the prisoners and jailers of Beaumaris, trapped in life, now seem trapped in death.
With ghost tours and paranormal investigations regularly conducted within its walls, Beaumaris Gaol continues to intrigue and frighten in equal measure.
It stands not only as a relic of a darker period in British history but as a place where the veil between the living and the dead seems remarkably thin.
For those brave enough to explore, Beaumaris Gaol offers not just a glimpse into a bygone era but the unsettling possibility of coming face to face with one of its many spectres.
Whether drawn by curiosity or scepticism, one thing is certain: a visit to Beaumaris Gaol is not easily forgotten.
Have you witnessed anything strange at Beaumaris Gaol? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
