Shrewsbury Prison, known as The Dana, was completed in 1793 and named after Rev Edmund Dana. The original building was constructed by Thomas Telford, following plans by Shrewsbury Architect, John Hiram Haycock.
For many years Shrewsbury Prison was a place of execution which in older times was carried out in public and drew huge crowds in an unwholesome festive atmosphere. People used to turn up early to make sure they got a good place and posters were produced as souvenirs.
Shrewsbury’s last public hanging was on April 11th 1863 when 30-year-old Edward Cooper was executed for murder. It was particularly popular, with numbers watching 10 times higher than the previous execution.
From 1902-1961 there were eight executions at Shrewsbury Prison. On the 9 February 1961, 21-year-old George Riley was executed by hanging for the murder of a 62-year-old woman. This would be the last execution to take place at Shrewsbury Prison before this form of capital punishment was abolished in 1969.
During redevelopment in 1972, the remains of ten prisoners executed at Shrewsbury Prison were dug up. Nine of those prisoners were unrecognisable and were subsequently cremated. The remaining prisoner was identified as George Riley, where his remains were handed over to his relatives.
