Kirkcudbright Tolbooth Visits

The Kirkcudbright Tolbooth was opened in 1993 by H.M. The Queen. This beautiful building was originally built around 1625-1629 as Kirkcudbright’s Tolbooth, when it was used as a Town Council meeting place and office, Burgh and Sheriff Court, and the Criminal and Debtor’s prison. One of the most famous prisoners was Captain John Paul, later known as John Paul Jones, hero of the American Navy. This grade A listed building retains many of the original features inside and outside including original stonework and doorways, the clocktower, the cell gate hinges and a set of jougs (or a prisoner’s metal collar) fixed to the outside wall. In modern times it is famous as a location for the filming of the cult classic ‘The Wicker man’. The first floor offers a gallery showing a range of contemporary art and craft exhibitions by local artists, and a new shop with a range of gifts and art supplies has been opened on the ground floor. New: a History of the Tolbooth - find out more about this beautiful building and its dark past in a new exhibition on the top floor.