Peterhead Prison Workshop

In 1882 a committee appointed to consider the best methods of employing convicts reported that ?the most likely prospect for benefiting the shipping and fishery interests of the country at large and at the same time profitably employing convicts is the construction of harbour and refuge at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire?. As a consequence of this, ?The Peterhead Harbour of Refuge Act? was passed in 1886, authorising the Prison Commissioners for Scotland to build a prison. In July 1885 land was purchased for the sum of ?5,000 and building of the ?convict prison? at Salthousehead began in 1886. The prison was opened on 7 August, 1888 and was completed by July 1891. By 1897 prisoner?s work was equally divided between the Admiralty Yard and Admiralty Quarries at Stirlinghill. The task, overseen by warders with rifles, was to build two massive sea-walls, the North and South Breakwaters. By 1957 the harbour was complete, and daily railway trips to the quarry ceased. Prisoners were later employed in industrial worksheds within the prison grounds, and in 1959 ?part of the Admiralty Yard, and some of the buildings thereon, was taken over, adding some 20 acres to the original site?. There was a burgh prison at 27 Prince Street, Peterhead between 1842 and 1874. After 1874 all small burgh prisons in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire were closed, and prisoners were sent to Craiginches in Aberdeen. Workshop: long low range with stalk projecting at centre N. N (entrance) elevation: large relieving arch to centre bay with low coped link adjoining stalk; regularly - disposed windows punctuated by 2 later flat-roofed porches in bays to left, 2-leaf door immediately to right, single window, further door and 4 windows beyond; altered bays incorporating later lean-to extension in bays to outer right. S elevation: 8 semicircular windows in bays to left, 9 full-size windows and some blocked openings across centre bays, and later lean-to extension to right with 3 further semicircular windows and blocked door to outer right. Margined glazing pattern and decoratively-astragalled semicircular windows, all in fixed metal frames. Corrugated iron roof. It is essential to book a place on the tour by Monday 6 September. Please telephone Richard Leith on 01261 813218 during office hours.