Jedburgh Castle facts for kids
Jedburgh Castle was an important castle located in the town of Jedburgh, Scotland. This castle saw many battles during the Wars of Scottish Independence, which were big fights between Scotland and England for control of the country. The Scots eventually tore down the castle in 1409. This was done by soldiers led by a brave Scottish knight, Sir James Douglas of Balvenie.
The land where the castle once stood was later used for a new purpose. In 1820, work began to build a special kind of prison there. This new prison was designed following ideas from John Howard (prison reformer), who believed in making prisons better places for people.
Jedburgh Castle Jail: From Old Castle to New Museum
In 1823, a new jail was built right on the site of the old Jedburgh Castle. This building was designed by an architect named Archibald Elliot. Later, in 1847, it was updated by Thomas Brown. The jail served its purpose for many years but eventually closed down in 1868.
Restoring the Jail for Visitors
Many years later, in 1968, the old jail building was carefully restored. Architects Aitken and Turnbull worked to make it look just like it did in the 1820s. After this restoration, the building opened to the public as the Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum.
Today, when you visit the museum, you can learn all about the local history of Jedburgh. It's a great way to see what life was like in the past, both for prisoners and for the people of the town.
The Ba Game Tradition
Jedburgh is also famous for a special game called the Ba Game. This game has been played in the town since 1704. It happens every year on the Thursday after Shrove Tuesday. The "uppies" team, one of the two teams playing, even uses the old castle site to celebrate their victories!
