A penal establishment has been established on this site since 1610. Throughout its dark history it has evolved from being a house of correction through to a military 'glasshouse' for both British & American servicemen & finally, a civil prison.
It has housed men, women & children, notorious criminals like the Kray twins & rumoured to be the location where an infamous group of prisoners were recruited from for a suicide mission in wartime Germany.
The prison housed a 19th century treadmill which was a gruelling punishment for any felons sentenced to hard labour, but this may have been preferable to being transported to the Australian colonies in a prison hulk. According to many different accounts the prison also had (& possibly still has!) some supernatural internees, the most widely known is the 'Grey Lady' who is reputed to stalk the landings of C Wing.
In 1904 a huge fire destroyed the roof of C Block of the civilian prison, which was believed to have been deliberately started by a prisoner.
During WW2 various documents were kept at Cornhill Prison for safe keeping far away from the German bombers who were blitzing London. These included the Domesday Book & the logs of HMS Victory. Although never confirmed it was also rumoured to have housed the Crown Jewels during this time.
Many civilian & military executions were carried out on the site & the notorious red brick 'hanging shed' is still in situ.
HMP Cornhill ended its working life in 2013 as the only C-Cat all 'lifer' prison in the country when it was closed as part of a government cost saving exercise.
The initial starting location begins at the main entrance to the former prison. It can easily be accessed from the road. Beware of traffic. At the final location there is a slippery character who is making a break for freedom if you look hard enough!
To find the final location you must work out the co-ordinates using the following clues.
N51° 1A.(B-5)6C W002° 3D.6EF
A= How many treadmills were installed for men sentenced to hard labour, in 1823?
B= The number of corbels (structural stone brackets) supporting the overhanging plinth of the flat roof on the FRONT elevation of the former Victorian main entrance.
C= The 2nd digit in the date when the prison was established as a House Of Correction.
D= The 2nd digit in the number in the title of the 1967 film that starred Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas & Donald Sutherland that was based on the book written by E. M. Nathanson. The book was reportedly rumoured to be written about a select group of condemned men who were held by the US 6833rd Guardhouse Overhead Detachment, in Shepton Mallet prison who were sent into Germany to carry out a highly dangerous operation during WW2.
E= The total number of 'arrow slit' windows in the old armoury above the main entrance.
F= The last digit in the year that a major incident destroyed part of the building.