Barlinnie Prison - History

There used to be eight prisons in Glasgow and the surrounding area but by 1840 all but two were closed. These were 'North' Prison at Duke Street - known as 'Bridgewall' (This closed 1955) and 'South' Prison at Glasgow Green - known as 'Burgh' (this closed 1862).

Due to overcrowding, the decision was taken to build a new four-block prison housing 200 prisoners in each block. In 1879 land on which the prison now stands was bought for the purpose from Barlinnie Farm Estate for a total of £9,750.

In 1882 Barlinnie first became a "place of legal detention" with the commissioning of A hall on 25th July 1882, receiving its first three prisoners on 15th August. With the help of prisoner labour, (quarrying local stone and breaking it for aggregate), B, C and D Halls were completed between 1883 and 1892. In 1955 on the closure of the female prison in Duke Street, a female block, which later became the Special Unit and is now the Phoenix and MDT units, was erected.