Scotland Tours of Stirling
The Erskine Marykirk
Youth Hostel, St. John Street, Stirling Old Town
Tel: Central Reservations on 08701 55 32 55 (No booking fee) or the Hostel direct (01786) 473442
Erskine marykirk youth hostel in stirling The original Erskine Kirk was founded in the 18th century amid local religious upheaval.
The 1740 church was replaced in 1825 - 6 with a new church which was almost totally destroyed by fire earlier this century.
The surviving facade has been incorporated into a modern youth hostel. The tomb of the church's founder ( the Reverend Ebenezer Erskine ) lies in front of the church and is overlooked by an elaborate classical monument.
Old Town Jail
St John Street, Stirling Old Town
Tel: 01786 450050
Stirling old town jail For 400 years, Stirling's prisoners were kept in the old Tollbooth Jail. It was a stinking, overcrowded, place. There came pressure for improvement and prison reform so the new purpose built Stirling Old Town Jail was opened in 1847.
Designed by Thomas Brown and opened as a County Jail, the building was used as the only military prison in Scotland from 1888 until 1935.Restoration to it's current use began in the early 1990's.
Put yourself into the prisoner's shoes and discover what life was like behind bars, up to 150 years ago.
"In prisons, which are really meant to be a terror to evil doers, there must be a great deal of solitude; coarse food; a dress of shame; hard incessant, irksome eternal labour; a planned and regulated and unrelenting exclusion of happiness and comfort "Sydney Smith 1821.
Stirling old town jail Living History actors take you on a tour of the Victorian jail. You will meet Jock Rankin, the town's hangman from the days when criminals would be publicly whipped, branded, banished or hanged. Come face to face with Frederick Hill, Victorian Inspector of Prisons, to hear his views on prison reform. Visit the inmates, see the solitary cells and witness the strict regime by which the Victorians sought to correct their morals.
A glass panelled elevator leads to a viewing deck at the top of the jail which looks over the Old Town, the Forth Valley and North to the first mountain ranges of the Highlands.
Easy to use handsets provide commentary on prison life, in French, German, Italian Spanish and English. Multi-lingual audio tour. Old town gift shop. Disabled access and facilities Parking available. Open Site open daily all year round. April to September 09.30 to 17.30(last admission) October 09.30 to 16.30(last admission) November to March 09.30 to 15.30(last admission) Admission Admission charges may change. Telephone 01786 450050 for current prices Tour with Actor Adult £5.50 OAP £3.65 Child £3.65 Student £4.25 Family (2 Adults and 2 Children) £14.65 Tour without Actor Adult £4.50 OAP £3.00 Child £3.00 Student £3.40 Family (2 Adults and 2 Children) £12.00 Actor performances are daily from April-October and between Boxing Day and New Year's Day inclusive. They are on weekends at all other times of the year.On your tour of Scotland you may experiance some Scottish Food.