Duke Street Prison
Encyclopedia
Duke Street Prison is one of 8 prisons which used to stand in and around Glasgow
. By 1840 most of these were closed except Duke Street
Prison (also known as Bridewell or the Northern Prison) and Glasgow Green
Prison (known as 'Burgh' or the Southern Prison) which closed in 1863. Between its first prisoners arriving in 1798 and 1872, various improvements were made to the structure but not to the terrible living conditions which were mentioned in the Glasgow
street song sung to the tune of 'There Is a Happy Land
'.
After the transfer of responsibility to the state from local authorities, HM Prison Barlinnie was built in the Eastern suburbs of the city in 1882 in order to take over from 'Bridewell' which eventually remained open as a women's' prison until 1955.
As Duke Street prison held women prisoners from around Scotland
, many Suffragettes and political activists were imprisoned here whose protests at the living conditions would eventually lead to the closure in 1955. It was demolished in 1958 to eventually make way for the Ladywell housing scheme which was built on the site from 1961–1964 and stands till this day. The only remaining structure of Duke Street Prison is some of the boundary wall
A total of 12 judicial executions by hanging
were carried out at the prison between 1902 and 1928. All those executed had been convicted of the crime of murder. The list of executed criminals includes the last woman to be executed in Scotland
and at the time the first in over 50 years who was hanged after being convicted of strangling a paper boy. The others were:-
Photographs from 1955 onward taken by the camera clubs of the time have been on display throughout Glasgow and are now part of the Glasgow Museums collection.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. By 1840 most of these were closed except Duke Street
Duke Street, Glasgow
Duke Street is a street running to the East End of Glasgow from the High Street in the City Centre, through the residential district of Dennistoun, running past The Forge Shopping Centre, before terminating at a junction with the Great Eastern Road , Westmuir Street and Springfield Road, to form a...
Prison (also known as Bridewell or the Northern Prison) and Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
Prison (known as 'Burgh' or the Southern Prison) which closed in 1863. Between its first prisoners arriving in 1798 and 1872, various improvements were made to the structure but not to the terrible living conditions which were mentioned in the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
street song sung to the tune of 'There Is a Happy Land
There Is a Happy Land
"There Is a Happy Land" is a hymn with lyrics by Andrew Young, to a tune arranged by Leonard P. Breedlove. It is known for being quoted or adapted in various contexts, including the films Arsenic and Old Lace , The King and I , and The Proposition ; the rock song "Run Runaway" by Slade; and a...
'.
- There is a happy land,
- doon Duke Street Jail,
- Where a' the prisoners stand,
- tied tae a nail.
- Ham an' eggs they never see,
- dirty watter fur yer tea;
- there they live in misery
- God Save the Queen!
After the transfer of responsibility to the state from local authorities, HM Prison Barlinnie was built in the Eastern suburbs of the city in 1882 in order to take over from 'Bridewell' which eventually remained open as a women's' prison until 1955.
As Duke Street prison held women prisoners from around Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, many Suffragettes and political activists were imprisoned here whose protests at the living conditions would eventually lead to the closure in 1955. It was demolished in 1958 to eventually make way for the Ladywell housing scheme which was built on the site from 1961–1964 and stands till this day. The only remaining structure of Duke Street Prison is some of the boundary wall
A total of 12 judicial executions by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
were carried out at the prison between 1902 and 1928. All those executed had been convicted of the crime of murder. The list of executed criminals includes the last woman to be executed in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and at the time the first in over 50 years who was hanged after being convicted of strangling a paper boy. The others were:-
| Execution date | Condemned prisoner | Murder victim |
|---|---|---|
| 12/11/1902 | Patrick Leggett | Sarah Jane Leggett |
| 26/07/1904 | Thomas Gunning | Agnes Allen |
| 14/11/1905 | Pasha Liffey | Mary Jane Welsh |
| 16/05/1917 | Thomas McGuiness | Alexander Imlach |
| 11/11/1919 | James Adams | Mary Doyle (Kane) |
| 26/05/1920 | Albert James Fraser | Henry Senior |
| 26/05/1920 | James Rollins | Henry Senior |
| 21/02/1922 | William Harkness | Elizabeth Benjamin |
| 10/10/1923 | Susan Newell Susan Newell Susan Newell was the last woman to be hanged in Scotland. She killed newspaper boy, John Johnston during a petty squabble, having failed to obtain a newspaper without paying for it. She killed her victim via strangulation on 20 May 1923.... |
John Johnstone |
| 24/09/1925 | John Keen | Noorh Mohammed |
| 24/01/1928 | James McKay | Agnes Arbuckle |
| 03/08/1928 | George Reynolds | Thomas Lee |
Photographs from 1955 onward taken by the camera clubs of the time have been on display throughout Glasgow and are now part of the Glasgow Museums collection.