Please leave this field emptyHistory Hit It’s long been rumoured that Maidstone Prison was built on the bones of executed prisoners. The story traces back to 1818, when sand for the prison’s foundations was quarried from nearby Penenden Heath. The name Penenden is believed to derive from the Old Saxon word penia, meaning “punishment,” and for more than a thousand years the heath served as one of Kent’s principal execution grounds. Those who were hanged were often buried where they died, and over centuries the ground absorbed countless unmarked graves. It’s therefore entirely possible that human remains were mixed into the sand later used to build the prison’s foundations—giving unsettling weight to the legend. WANT MORE? just sign up here. We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.
