The Tolbooth, Aberdeen facts for kids
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| Location | Aberdeen City |
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| Type | Prison Museum |
The Tolbooth in Aberdeen, Scotland is a very old building from the 1600s. It used to be a jail but is now a cool museum. The Aberdeen City Council took over the old jail and opened it for everyone to visit in 1995.
At the museum, you can see what prison cells looked like. There are also many items related to police work and how laws were kept in the past.
The Tolbooth's Long History
The Tolbooth is one of the oldest buildings in Aberdeen. It was built between 1616 and 1629. It is connected to the Aberdeen Sheriff Court, which is a place where legal cases are heard. This building is right in the city centre on Union Street.
In the mid-1500s, Aberdeen first used a special machine called a Guillotine for criminals. This old "maiden of the blade" from Aberdeen is now on display at the museum for visitors to see.
Around 1630, a woman named Marion Hardie from Elgin was held at the Tolbooth. She was accused of practicing Witchcraft, which was a serious accusation back then. Her story ended sadly here. In 1686, the Market Cross was built in front of the Tolbooth. This cross was later fixed up in 1821 and moved to its current spot in 1827. By 1703, being accused of witchcraft was no longer a crime. But for many of the 45 women and 2 men accused in the area, it was too late.
In 1715, people in Aberdeen showed their support for James Francis Edward Stuart. They believed he should be the King of Scotland instead of the Protestant George I. This was part of the Jacobite uprising, which was a big fight happening all over Scotland. In April 1746, the Jacobite uprising was defeated. After the Battle of Culloden, the Tolbooth held over 96 Jacobite prisoners. These people, who were confirmed or suspected Jacobites, waited for their trials at the Tolbooth prison.
In the mid-1700s, some people in Aberdeen, like merchants and city leaders, kept many local children in the Tolbooth and other buildings. These children were then sent to America to work. They were supposed to be street children who had no one to care for them. However, some stories say that children were even taken while they were just playing. This was a very unfair practice.
Today, the old prison is open for visitors to learn about its past. There is a special cell called the Jacobite cell. Here, you can see a model of Willie Baird, a real prisoner from 1746. He sits with his Jacobite friends, James Innes and Alexander Annand. Willie tells visitors his sad story while they wait for their trials. Many people believe the Tolbooth is one of the most haunted buildings in Aberdeen. It has been explored by many ghost hunting teams. A famous TV show called Most Haunted even visited the building in April 2009. The episode was shown in December 2009.
In 2016, the museum celebrated its 400th birthday! Visitors can even go on a Ghost Hunt tour of the building.
Exploring The Tolbooth Museum
The old prison's cells from the 1600s and 1700s still have their original barred windows and doors. Inside the old building, there is a steep spiral staircase with rope handles to help you climb.
At the museum, you can see the "maiden of the blade," which is the old guillotine. The museum also shares the exciting story of Alexander Keith's escape. You can also learn about the lives of some of the Jacobite prisoners.
