HMP Barlinnie could become A-listed building as public asked to share views

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is seeking views from the public on proposals to designate Scotland’s largest and best-known prison as a Category A listed building.

Barlinnie, in the north east of Glasgow, is the most complete surviving example of a 19th century prison in Scotland and is exceptionally important in the history of Scottish prison design and criminal justice.

The proposed listing would cover the surviving parts of the site’s earliest layout, which was developed between 1880 and 1908.

Construction of Barlinnie started in 1880, and the site opened in 1882. It was the first new prison to be built in Scotland following the nationalisation of the prison system with the Prison Act of 1877.

Building at Barlinnie continued throughout the late 19th century, and the prison expanded in the 20th and 21st centuries with a number of alterations and modernisations.

In the late 19th century, prisoners at Barlinnie carried out hard labour, breaking rocks from a local quarry.

Barlinnie soon developed a reputation for being a tough prison with harsh punishments, including the restraint of prisoners in handcuffs and canvas jackets overnight.

In the mid-20th century, Barlinnie was also a place of capital punishment, with ten men executed by hanging between 1946 and 1960 before its abolition in 1965.

In contrast, in the later 20th century, the prison opened a pioneering experimental facility called the Barlinnie Special Unit, which attracted international interest.

Operating from 1973 to 1994, the Special Unit took a new approach to reforming some of Barlinnie’s most violent inmates, allowing them greater freedoms.

Prisoners could wear their own clothes and had increased access to their families.

They were also encouraged to explore creative activities, and the Unit achieved high-profile success stories, such as Jimmy Boyle, who became a sculptor and writer.

Dara Parsons, head of Designations at HES, said: “Listing is a way of ensuring that the importance of Scotland’s most historically, culturally and architecturally significant buildings is taken into account in decisions about their future.

“Barlinnie certainly holds a place in the national consciousness and is a rare and outstanding example of a purpose-built prison complex in Scotland, significant as the largest and most complete surviving example of its building type.

“We have not yet decided whether to list Barlinnie, and we would encourage anyone with views on the building’s significance or any information that may help inform our final decision to review our report and take part in our consultation.”

To take part in the consultation, which runs until January 22, 2025, you can visit the HES website.