Shrewsbury's Dana Prison to be opened up for tours

The development comes after the Shrewsbury prison's owner, Trevor Osborne, struck a deal with Jailhouse Tours to operate the Castlefields site from the start of next month.

Joel Campbell, owner of Jailhouse Tours, said he was delighted with the deal and would be looking forward to starting work.

Mr Campbell said people would be able to take part in a variety of different events at the prison, with 90 minute tours planned as the "bread and butter" of the operation.

He said: "It will be a tour where people go through the journey a prisoner would go through, from the gates at the entrance, through to the rooms where the searches would take place, through to the cells.

"People will get to see all the different wings, get to understand more about the history, from its beginnings right up to the present day, and how that has changed.

"They will get to see all the stuff people like to see, the segregation units, the suicide watch, showers, the hanging rooms."

Mr Campbell explained that while the tours would be the mainstay of the operation they also plan to run "escape events".

He said: "People will start off in a jumpsuit in the prison and they will then have to try and escape.

"Two weeks before the event we will send them an information pack with maps of the site, bits of information about different guards who will be on duty, deliveries that will come in and out of the site. They will have pre-briefing on the day and then they have to try and escape the site."

Successful escapees will receive a prize for their efforts.

Mr Campbell said that actors would be employed to play the role of guards and officers, and that he expects the event to be popular for corporate team building, as well as stag and hen parties.

Other plans include "prison experience days", where people will be given a taste of life as a prisoner, and "this life is not for me" school events.

The school visits will allow pupils to learn about the history of the prison, view the cells, and receive talks from reformed offenders.

Mr Campbell said: "It will give them an insight into what happens behind the cell doors, and how to avoid it."

Other options for events include paranormal evenings.

Mr Campbell said he is confident the idea will prove a hit with local people, and would also attract tourists to the town.

He said: "It is a really easy location, right next to the train station and a car park, it is quite easy to access."

Mr Osborne, chairman of the Osborne Property Group, which bought the prison last year, has previously explained that he wants to transform the site into "Shrewsbury's Walled Garden".

The developer said he intends to submit an outline planning application for a "mixed use site" within the next few months.

Mr Osborne has said he intends to convert the cell blocks into student accommodation, while the rest of the site will be made up of other accommodation, and potentially a gymnasium.

• For more information visit www.jailhousetours.com