Perth Prison

Perth Prison was built under the direction of Robert Reid (1774-1856) ("King's architect and surveyor in Scotland. Reid was responsible for many public works, primarily inEdinburgh, including the Law Courts in Parliament Square. He also worked on the detailed layout of Robert Adam's Charlotte Square after that architect's death and built a house there for himself. In the square he completed the design for St. George's Church (now West Register House), which had again been started by Adam. Reid planned the northern part of Edinburgh's New Town (1802) and extended Adam's Register House (1834). He is buried in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.") - see Robert Reid for further information - between 1810 and 1812, as a depot for some 7000 prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars. The Perthshire Advertiser of 27 September 1930 detailed the unveiling of a memorial plaque to mark the burial ground of French prisoners of war who died in Perth Penitentiary between 1811 and 1814 (the Peninsular War period). Unveiled by William Anderson the Secretary of State for Scotland the plaque reads:

"Near this spot was interned a number of French prisoners of war who died in military capacity at Perth about the year 1812."

In 1842, the building began service as a civilian prison. The prison's C Hall is part of the original Perth prison which housed the French prisoners. It is under threat of demolition but is being supported by Historic Scotland.

It is currently Scotland's oldest prison. The Prisoner of War Visitor Experience at Edinburgh Castle has on display craft items produced by prisoners in Scotland. Amongst this collection is a wooden snuff box made by a prisoner held at Perth Prison in the 1800s - it is owned by Perth Museum and Art Gallery.

"Inmates at Perth Prison are still living in "very poor conditions", an inspectors' report has revealed.

It is also failing to meet the needs of the increasing number of remand prisoners, according to Chief Inspector Andrew McLellan. However, his report said the prison was safer, with a fall in the number of serious violent incidents. Dr McLellan also said that a major rebuilding programme was under way and was being well managed. The inspection found that while slopping out had ended, some prisoners were living in very poor conditions in A Hall and E Hall. Laundry shortages Cells in these areas were condemned, with three prisoners often sharing a cell. Some inmates also said they had to wash their underwear in sinks because of laundry shortages and a prisoner survey found the food at Perth to be among the worst in the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). Dr McLellan's report stated: "Some cells have little furniture, and what furniture there is is often broken. "Mattresses are old and thin and often do not look clean. Cells holding two prisoners are quite cramped. "Those with three are extremely cramped."

Urgent refurbishment He said some cells were in a"dreadful" condition, with graffiti on the walls and ceilings and areas where chunks of plaster had fallen off. The report also found that work experience and vocational training opportunities for prisoners were generally good but these were hampered by a shortage of prison escort staff. An SPS spokesman welcomed the report and said an urgent refurbishment programme was under way in E Hall. He added: "Further, a review of basic hygiene is under way and will include improving access to showers and the purchase of more laundry bags and underwear."

The spokesman said food serveries had been installed in the accommodation blocks which had proved to be a "great success" despite some early misgivings."

BBC Report 17 March 2006

In October of 2007 dozens of 19th century skeletons were unearthed at the prison. At least 24 people buried in deep trenches were unearthed during building works. These probably date back to the 1830s when the prison was home to an asylum. The fact that all the bodies were buried at the same time suggests that they all died during an epidemic - possibly Typhus.