Where can I find information for a school project on the history of prisons?

You can find useful information in books, museums and websites.

Books

Cameron, Joy, Prisons and Punishment in Scotland (Canongate, 1983)

Markus, T. A. ‘Buildings for the Bad, the Sad and the Mad in Urban Scotland, 1780-1830’ in Order and Space in Society: Architectural Form and its Context in the Scottish Enlightenment ed. by T. A. Markus, (Mainstream, 1982)

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Tolbooths and Town-Houses: Civic Architecture in Scotland to 1833 (HMSO, 1996)

Museums

There are two museums which offer detailed experience of prison conditions: Inveraray Jail (in Argyll) and Stirling Old Town Jail. Both are open to individual (paying) members of the public, and to group visits. The contact details for each are:

Inveraray Jail, Church Square, Inveraray, Argyll, PA32 8TX <https://www.inverarayjail.co.uk/> [accessed 24 April 2024]

Stirling Old Town Jail, St John Street, Stirling, FK8 1EB <https://oldtownjail.co.uk/> [accessed 24 April 2024]

In addition, it may be possible to visit the cells in the tolbooths of former burghs Tolbooths and Town-Houses cited above will provide details of tolbooths in your area which have been preserved. You will need to contact the local council to arrange access, where this is possible.