Inveraray Jail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inveraray Jail |
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Inveraray Jail
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| Location | Church Square, Inveraray |
| Built | 1820 |
| Architect | James Gillespie Graham and Robert Reid |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Official name: Former Inveraray Court House, Crown Point, Inveraray | |
| Designated | 28 February 1966 |
| Reference no. | LB35030 |
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Listed Building – Category B
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| Official name: Old Jail, Crown Point, Inveraray | |
| Designated | 4 August 1966 |
| Reference no. | LB35034 |
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Listed Building – Category C(S)
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| Official name: New Jail, Crown Point, Inveraray | |
| Designated | 4 August 1966 |
| Reference no. | LB35033 |
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Inveraray Jail is an old prison and courthouse located in Inveraray, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in 1820. Today, it's a special building known as a Category A listed building, which means it's very important historically. The jail stopped being a prison in 1889. However, the building was still used as a courthouse until the middle of the 1900s. It even hosted some meetings for the local government, the Argyll County Council. Since 1989, Inveraray Jail has been a popular museum where visitors can learn about its past.
Contents
The Jail's Story
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The idea for Inveraray Jail came about because the old town house, built in 1755, was too small. People needed a bigger place for a courthouse and prisons. The first plans were very grand, including a courthouse and three separate prisons: one for men, one for women, and one for people who owed money. But these plans were too expensive, so they were made a bit smaller.
Building the Courthouse
The new courthouse was designed by an architect named James Gillespie Graham. He used some early drawings by Robert Reid. The building was made in a neoclassical style, which means it looked like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It was built using smooth, cut stone called ashlar and finished in 1820.
The courthouse had a grand front with three sections facing Church Square. The middle section had a main door with a special fan-shaped window above it. On the floor above, there was a large window. The sections on either side had rounded windows on the ground floor and regular windows on the first floor. All the first-floor windows had small railings in front of them and were decorated with columns. Inside, the most important room was the main courtroom. It was on the first floor at the back, offering great views over Loch Fyne.
The Prison Blocks
At the same time as the courthouse, a two-storey prison block was built. This was called the "old prison block." It was also designed by James Gillespie Graham and made from rough, unpolished stone.
Later, new rules for prisons came out in 1839. These rules said that prisoners should be kept separate. So, a new, three-storey prison block was built. This "new prison block" was designed by Thomas Brown and finished in 1845. It was also made from rough stone.
Closing the Prison
More changes to prison rules happened in 1877. These new rules meant that the government, not local towns, would manage prisons. They also decided to close smaller prisons and use bigger ones instead. Because of these changes, the prisoners from Inveraray were moved to Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow. Inveraray Prison then closed its doors in 1889.
After the Prison Closed
Even after the prison closed, the courthouse was still used. It hosted meetings for the local government of Argyll. In 1890, new local councils were created. The Argyll County Council held its first meeting at the Inveraray courthouse. They spent a long time deciding where to meet permanently! They eventually decided to meet in different towns, but they did hold meetings in Inveraray sometimes.
By the mid-1900s, the courthouse building was getting old and worn out. In 1954, it was decided that no more major court hearings would happen there. Some smaller police and local court hearings continued for a while. But in 1962, the Argyll County Council sold the courthouse.
Becoming a Museum
In 1965, the old courthouse complex was renovated. Then, in May 1989, it opened its doors again as a visitor attraction called "Inveraray Jail." Today, it's a museum where you can explore the old cells, courtrooms, and learn what life was like for prisoners and staff many years ago.
Gallery
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The old two-storey prison block
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The new three-storey prison block
See also
- List of Category A listed buildings in Argyll and Bute
- List of listed buildings in Inveraray
