The Old Town Jail was first opened in 1847. Located at the top of St. John Street, the jail paints a frightening picture of what it would have been like …

d.a.

April 16, 2025

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The prison, then called the "New County Jail," opened in November 1847 as a reformatory prison, almost directly adjacent to the Tolbooth (now a theater), then notorious as the worst prison in Britain. Through the work of Elizabeth Fry and other pioneering prison reformers, Frederick Hill was appointed Scotland's first Inspector of Prisons in 1840. He then commissioned the architect Thomas Brown to build the new prison according to William Brenner's "Separate System."
A visit is well worth it, as the first part of the tour is presented by actors who take on multiple roles.
More information here: oldtownjail.co.uk/history

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2. Stirling Old Town Jail – Stirling Castle loop from Kings Park

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3. The National Wallace Monument – Old Stirling Bridge loop from University of Stirling

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Elevation 120 m

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Wednesday 11 March

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Location: Mercat Cross, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Stirling Old Town Jail

1. Stirling Castle & Gowanhill loop from Stirling

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