Calton Jail from Calton Road

Category

Library Item

Item no

18152

Title

Calton Jail from Calton Road, Edinburgh

Description

Calton Gaol is a large stone building with high walls, castellated turrets and narrow windows on top of a rocky hillside. A cobbled road leads past the prison at the base of the mound.

Artist / maker

Smith, John

Date

1927

Size

11.5 x 7 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This is a photograph from the book 'Origin, nomenclature and location of various houses and streets in Edinburgh'. Calton Gaol was designed by Archibald Elliot as an alternative to Edinburgh's historic Tolbooth. It was located immediately to the south of Regent Road, overlooking Waverley Station. A Bridewell, or house of correction, designed by Robert Adam already stood on the site. The prison was opened in 1817, and closed in 1925 when the limited size of the premises necessitated a move to Saughton, the location of the present day prison. It was demolished, save the Governor's House which still stands, to make way for the Government Buildings of St Andrew's House.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Turrets

Crime and punishment > Crime and punishment facilities > Prisons

Landscape > Land > Hills

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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