Jail cell is uncovered in Bishop's Castle Town Hall basement
Builders working on a £700,000 revamp of an historic Shropshire town hall have uncovered a jail cell which has not seen the light of day for 100 years.
The find came more than four weeks after contractors moved in to begin the transformation of Bishop's Castle Town Hall.
Sam Hine, the manager of the town hall project, said that a number of interesting items had been found so far during the excavations beneath the 18th century building.
"We always knew that the basement of the building was previously the jail and prisoners would be held in that area, but for about the last 100 years that area has been public toilets.
"We have taken the toilets out now and the original cell has come to light."
Sam added: "We are not exactly sure when the town hall was built but think it was from 1750 to 1765 and so the cell is about 250 years old.
"The building has always been a town hall and used to be a civic hub with a court on the upper floor to where prisoners were led from the basement cell."
Today the building still houses the Council Chamber, Clerk's office, and Coroner's Court.
The cell is to take on a new lease of life under the project, with part of the area being converted into a disabled lift and the other section into the building's foyer.
Sam said: "The history of the cell and the building as a whole will be told in the foyer and so it has proved a valuable asset for interpretation."
The aim of the town hall project is to restore the Grade II-listed building to its former glory, with work expected to be finished by the new year.
Cash for the revamp scheme has come in the main from a £676,800 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which was awarded last September.
The massive redevelopment will see the building turned into a community hub for residents and visitors to find out more about the town and the area.
It will also remain the base for Bishop's Castle Town Council and it is hoped it will once again become a focus for the town's Friday markets.
