Governor handing over keys as Shrewsbury Dana prison doors close
The doors were shutting on Shrewsbury's Dana Prison for the final time today as the keys to the historic jail were handed over to the Ministry of Justice.
Governor Gerry Hendry, who is now retiring, was handing over the keys at lunchtime to mark the official end to the jail, which has operated in the town for more than 200 years.
It marks the very final act in the prison's history after the last inmates were transferred out at the end of February and staff marked the site's closure with a parade last Friday.
More than 200 members of staff who worked at the prison have been affected with workers either opting to take voluntary redundancy or move to other prisons. The closure was ordered by the Government as part of cost-cutting plans which have resulted in the loss of several ageing prisons around the country in a bid to save £63 million a year in running costs.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "We are determined to drive down the cost of running our prisons.
"That is why we are replacing older accommodation that is expensive to run with newer, cheaper and more efficient accommodation that will provide better value for money."
Over the weekend, the Dana was opened up for tours by invitation only to former workers at the site and their families before the hand over.
Earlier this week, Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said Justice Secretary Chris Grayling had given 'verbal approval' to the possibility of opening the site up for guided tours by the public following its closure.
Talks will now be taking place in the next few weeks on the future of the prison between Shropshire Council and the Ministry of Justice.
Among the options being explored is the possibility of turning the grade II listed site into a hotel.
