HM Prison Peterhead

Peterhead Convict Prison was built around 1888. It was designed to hold 208 prisoners and to be Scotland's only convict prison,Scraton, P., Sim, J. & Skidmore, P. (1991) Prisons Under Protest, Buckingham: Open University Press i.e. for prisoners sentenced to 'hard labour'. Occupancy averaged at around 350 however, until peaking at 455 in 1911. Additional buildings were completed in 1909, 1960 and 1962, bringing capacity up to 362. According to the Scottish Prison Service, the prison could, in 2012, accommodate up to 142 prisoners.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sps.gov.uk/Prisons/Peterhead/peterhead.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825204438/http://www.sps.gov.uk/Prisons/Peterhead/peterhead.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Peterhead Prison|archivedate=25 August 2012}}

It closed in 2013, to be replaced by the new HMP Grampian, the first prison in Scotland to jointly house youths, men and women.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-26407582|title=BBC News – First inmates at new Grampian prison in Peterhead|work=BBC News|date=3 March 2014 |access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928053301/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-26407582|url-status=live}} The first inmates transferred on to site on 2 March 2014 having been temporarily housed at other sites and connected to family with virtual visits by videolink.

Until the opening of Peterhead Convict Prison, Scots convicts were transported to England to serve their sentences. The first convicts were received in August 1888.

Peterhead supplied the labour force to work in Stirlinghill Quarry and in the Admiralty Yard attached to the prison. These convicts supported the work of a civilian labour force employed by the Admiralty to construct the Harbour of Refuge breakwater.

The Admiralty project was unique in Scotland as it was served by the only state-owned passenger-carrying railway in its day.

{{main|Peterhead Prison Riot}}

On 28 September 1987, a riot in the prison's D wing resulted in prisoners taking over the building and taking a prison officer, 56-year-old Jackie Stuart, hostage. The rioters were serving life in prison for violent crimes. It was thought that they had nothing to lose and would not hesitate to make good on their threats to kill their hostage, whom they had taken up to the rafters. When negotiations broke down, the then-Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd, dispatched the SAS to bring the riot to an end on 3 October. The operation was successful. The hostage was released unharmed and order in the prison was restored.{{cite web|title=SAS Operations – Peterhead Prison|url=http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-air-service/sas-operations/peterhead/|publisher=Elite UK forces|accessdate=12 October 2013|archive-date=10 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010045925/http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-air-service/sas-operations/peterhead/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=McKain|first=Bruce|title=Government admits the SAS ended Peterhead jail siege|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/government-admits-the-sas-ended-peterhead-jail-siege-1.775619|accessdate=12 October 2013|newspaper=The Herald|date=23 January 2003|archive-date=14 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014012842/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/government-admits-the-sas-ended-peterhead-jail-siege-1.775619|url-status=live}}

Peterhead Prison had a history of poor conditions for prisoners, being referred to as "Scotland's gulag, a prison of no hope."Scraton, P., Sim, J. & Skidmore, P. (1991) Prisons Under Protest, Buckingham: Open University Press pg.14 A 2005 inspection reported that electricity had only just been made available in all the cells and slopping out continued at the prison.[https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20150220140758/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/06/24104813/48157 HM INSPECTORATE OF PRISONS HMP PETERHEAD INSPECTION: 30–31 MARCH 2005] – Retrieved 31/08/07 HMP Peterhead was a specialist centre for sex offenders.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1885029.stm Peterhead Prison: Granite fortress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040609220459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1885029.stm |date=9 June 2004 }} – Retrieved 31/08/07

Talks on replacing the prison with a new one began in 2006.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4839522.stm "New Peterhead prison is favoured"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113030033/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4839522.stm |date=13 November 2012 }} – BBC News They were revived in November 2006.[http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=19073013&folderPk=85696&pNodeId=149221 "New jail could be built on existing site, says Salmond"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528200613/http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=19073013&folderPk=85696&pNodeId=149221 |date=28 May 2016 }} – This is North Scotland.co.uk{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=19749930&folderPk=85696&pNodeId=149221 |title="Superjail Cannot Come Soon Enough" – ThisisNorth Scotland.co.uk, Feb 2008 |access-date=24 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233357/http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149664&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149490&contentPK=19749930&folderPk=85696&pNodeId=149221 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} Demolition of part of the prison began on 13 February 2012, with the opening of the new HMP Grampian planned for winter 2013/14.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sps.gov.uk/Prisons/Peterhead/peterhead-history.aspx |title=Peterhead Prison – History |access-date=6 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108074007/http://www.sps.gov.uk/Prisons/Peterhead/peterhead-history.aspx |archive-date=8 November 2012 |url-status=dead }} The prison closed on 6 December 2013.{{cite news|last=Urquhart|first=Frank|title=Notorious Peterhead prison closes its doors|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/notorious-peterhead-prison-closes-its-doors-1-3223438|access-date=7 December 2013|newspaper=The Scotsman|date=6 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212040645/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/notorious-peterhead-prison-closes-its-doors-1-3223438|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The new facility can hold about 500 male and female prisoners – both adults and young offenders – from the Northern Community Justice Authority catchment area.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sps.gov.uk/MediaCentre/News-3500.aspx |title=HMP Grampian: Intention to award a contract |access-date=6 October 2012 |archive-date=28 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628055432/http://www.sps.gov.uk/MediaCentre/News-3500.aspx |url-status=live }}{{update inline|date=August 2020}}

File:Redcon_1.jpg

In 2016, Peterhead Prison was used as a filming location for the 2018 British zombie action film Redcon-1.

In January 2022 the prison again became a filming location for Channel 4 series Screw,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/entertainment/3860637/screw-channel-4-peterhead-prison-laura-checkley/|title='Eerie and bleak' Peterhead Prison haunts star of new Channel 4 drama Screw|first=Scott|last=Begbie|date=19 January 2022 }} an STV Studios produced prison drama starring Derry Girls actress Jamie-Lee O'Donnell and The Bill and Killing Eve actress Nina Sosanya. It was confirmed the show has been picked up for a second series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/series-2-channel-4-prison-drama-screw-begins-filming-and-new-cast-announced|title=Series 2 of Channel 4 prison drama Screw begins filming and new cast announced | Channel 4|website=www.channel4.com}}

The building now serves as the Peterhead Prison Museum which provides an Audio Guided Tour of cells, exercise areas, kitchens, laundry, hospital and ancillary rooms. There is a small first-floor cafeteria.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.peterheadprisonmuseum.com/ Peterhead Prison Museum]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3708235.stm Peterhead Prison 'as bad as ever' – bbc.co.uk]
• [https://archive.today/20130420021626/http://www.buchanobserver.co.uk/buchannews/HM-PETERHEAD-PRISON-CONDITIONS-UNDER.4564381.jp H.M. PETERHEAD PRISON CONDITIONS UNDER FIRE]

{{Prisons in Scotland}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:Prisons in Peterhead

Peterhead

Category:1888 establishments in Scotland

Category:Museums in Aberdeenshire

Category:Prison museums in the United Kingdom

Category:Government buildings completed in 1888

Category:2013 disestablishments in Scotland

Category:Museums established in 2016

Category:2016 establishments in Scotland