Calton Jail

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This grand building was once the governors house belonging to Edinburgh's notorious Calton Jail built in 1817 on Calton Hill. This replaced the old Tollbooth, called the 'Heart of Midlothian' as it had been used in several guises over the years. Walter Scott's famous book describes something of the building and its place in Edinburgh society. Though the governors house was designed by the great Robert Adam the jail became renown for the poor diet, being very cold, and the strict discipline demanded from the inmates. 


The name Calton some reckon comes from 'Cold Town, but it is precedes such a phrase and most likely arises from the Gaelic  "cauldh-dun," which means 'Black Hill,' as the hill comprises black basalt. Edinburgh's position allows the citizens, once crushed together in the old town, to escape to the hills right on their doorstep. James II allowed tournaments there in the 1400's and theatrical productions son followed. Later use included a hospital, a monastery and a small village of shoemakers. Their small area of land later becoming the Calton Cemetery. David Hume is one of the more famous people buried therein. Next to the Calton jail stood the debtors prison, the Brideswell , also designed by Robert Adam. Debt today leads to much hardship, in times past it led to prison and in some cases hanging!  How banks would hate that today! 


Imagine those confined within such a building.  Even egalitarian Edinburgh with the famous Georgian 'New Town' buildings, High society, sophisticated legal structures, Calvinist ministers, and enterprising commercial businessmen contained many slum dwellings. The Irish immigration during the 1800's brought some 25,000 to dwell in the run down centres, mixing with those already overcrowded there. Criminal elements along with desperate people, mixed in Calton jail with drunks, and lunatics, and poor diet and bad health caused many diseases which led to criminal behaviour, and alsothe well as the well-to-do who had not done so well it would appear!  


During the Great War several leading socialists in Glasgow loudly opposed men being sent to kill one another and this led to them being jailed, and to make it worse they were sent to an Edinburgh jail at that!  Willie Gallacher was one such detained there. He was one who complained of the cold, the total silence, only whispered conversations during the one hours exercise was available, and the poor diet. Thick porridge and sour milk was the breakfast,  soup and dry bread comprised dinner and supper was similar to breakfast.  Arthur Woodburn was also jailed with Gallcher, he later became Labour's Secretary of State for Scotland in 1947, by which time the jail had been demolished.  He used some of the stones to make a garden path for his home!  What satisfaction that must have brought!


The jail was replaced by Saughton prison in the 1930's and now stands there St Andrews House, home to Scotland's most senior civil servants. Some would make jokes about that at this point, but I am too polite!  I suspect however the diet available there is superiour to what was found previously. 

The tall needle next to the house, which is now offices, is the Martyrs Monument. This commemorated those who campaigned for political freedoms in the 18th and 19th centuries. The five men were transported to Australia for fifteen years!

Scotland


Calton Jail




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