Old Prison
The Old Prison was completed in 1820 at the same time as the courthouse.It was the principal jail of the county of Argyll and housed men, women and children, convicted and unconvicted prisoners as well as the sane and the insane in 8 cold, damp cells.
Conditions gradually improved after the Penal Reform Bill of 1838. The prison was inspected in 1840 by the new Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, Frederic Hill. He drew up a long list of improvements.
Shortly after his visit one of the cells was converted into a washroom. In 1841 a new coal fired heating system and gas fittings for light were installed.
In 1849 all male prisoners were moved to the recently completed New Prison.
Did You Know?Many children were held here. Hector MacNeil was a schoolboy aged 13. He was found guilty of stealing a turnip from a field and served 30 days imprisonment! Margaret Cowan, aged 11, stole a pair of shoes and was sentenced to 40 days imprisonment followed by 3 years at reformatory school.