Inveraray Jail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inveraray Jail |
|
|---|---|
Inveraray Jail
|
|
| Built | 1819 |
| Architect | James Gillespie Graham |
|
Listed Building – Category A
|
|
| Designated | 28 February 1966 |
| Reference no. | LB35030 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Inveraray Jail is a famous old building in Inveraray, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It was once a prison and a courthouse in the 1800s. From 1820 to 1889, it held people who broke the law. Today, it is a special living museum where you can see what life was like back then. It is also a very important historic building.
Contents
The Jail's Story: A Look Back in Time
The story of Inveraray Jail begins in the early 1800s. An architect named James Gillespie Graham designed the building in 1813. His plans were based on earlier ideas from Robert Reid.
Building the First Prison
The first plans for the jail were very big. They included a courthouse and three separate prisons. There would be one prison for men, one for women, and one for people who owed money. There was enough land for this large project. However, there was not enough money to build everything at once. So, only one prison was built at first.
Opening Day: 1820
Both the courthouse and the first prison opened in 1820. The courtroom was on the first floor. It had large windows that looked out over the prison yard. Beyond the yard, you could see Loch Fyne.
The prison building itself had two floors. Its walls were very thick, about three feet wide. They were made of rough red stone. This first prison had eight cells in total. A large room on the ground floor was a day-room. Like the cells, it had narrow windows without glass.
Changes and New Buildings
Laws about prisons changed over time. The Prisons (Scotland) Act of 1839 brought many new rules. One big change was that prisoners had to be kept separate. This meant a second prison was needed.
The Second Prison: 1848
A new prison was finally built on the extra land. It opened in late 1848. This new building was designed by Thomas Brown from Edinburgh. It had twelve cells spread over three floors. There was also an exercise area at the top.
Two outdoor exercise yards were also built. A wall separated them so prisoners could not talk to each other. This "separate system" was meant to make prisoners think about their actions.
Government Takes Control
Another big change happened in 1877. The Prisons (Scotland) Act of 1877 meant the government took over prisons. Local towns no longer had to run them. Larger prisons were built in bigger cities. For example, Barlinnie prison opened in Glasgow in 1882.
Because of these new, larger prisons, smaller local jails began to close. Inveraray Jail was one of the last small prisons to close. On July 20, 1889, the local newspaper told everyone the prison would close on August 31.
The Courthouse Continues
Even after the prison closed, the courthouse stayed open. It continued to be used until 1954. There was some activity there even after that.
Over the years, the buildings almost became abandoned many times. This often happened when repairs were needed. In the 1980s, a lot of work was done to fix up the jail. However, plans for its future fell through, and the building was empty for a while.
Inveraray Jail Today: A Living Museum
In May 1989, Inveraray Jail reopened as a special tourist attraction. It is now privately owned. When you visit, you can experience what life was like in the 19th century. Actors re-enact trials and show you what it was like to be an inmate back then. It's a fascinating way to learn about history!
