was the only place in the UK where you could be tried, incarcerated and hanged on the front steps…all in the name of justice..."

The imposing spectacle of The Galleries of Justice has been striking residents of Nottingham with fear and awe for almost 700 years. The current building was used as a prison and courts from 1780 till 1980, but there has been a court on the site since 1375, with additional prison cells added in 1449. Not only were people tried, sentenced and imprisoned in one building, the unlucky ones had the prospect of a public execution on the front steps to look forward to.

The building is frighteningly expansive, stretching over seven  floors, including man made caves and original prison cells, the prison yard (in which you can still see 19th century graffiti) and the hanging room, used for prisoners not deemed worthy of a public death. There is also an impressive court room, in which prisoners of yore would have learnt their fate.

With such a history, it is perhaps unsurprising that The Galleries of Justice vies for the prestige that comes with being the most haunted building in Britain. Living TV's 'Most Haunted' described it as one of the scariest places they had ever visited. They captured strange gurgling sounds emanating from the caves as well as numerous unexplained banging sounds and apparent poltergeist activity. One member of the crew also claimed to have witnessed the apparition of a small child.

The court room is notorious for the appearance of black figures on the balcony, accompanied by blood-curdling groans and screams. It's thought that this is a replay of the days in which so many death sentences were passed in here. The caves, which lie well below ground, are home to some particularly frightening  activity, including mysterious stone throwing and the physical manhandling of visitors by unseen hands.

i stayed there overnight with a paranormal investigation group and we experienced nothing
and the atmosphere felt peaceful. some of the guests complained and left early.

I wonder if they sensed someone in the group was seeking entertainment and not taking their plight seriously?

possibly! good point.