Old prison cell: it's abysmal, some recalled (8)
I believe the answer is:
bastille
'old prison' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cell it's abysmal some recalled' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates a hidden word.
'recalled' is a reversal indicator.
'ellitsab' is hidden in the letters of 'cell its abysmal'.
'ellitsab' written backwards gives 'BASTILLE'.
(Other definitions for bastille that I've seen before include "Paris prison, now opera" , "Paris prison stormed in 1789 ad." , "Former Parisian prison" , "Parisian fortress" , "Building stormed in Paris" .)