"The Big Hoose" redirects here. Not to be confused with The Big House.
HM Prison Barlinnie is the largest prison in Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Prison Service and is located in the residential suburb of Riddrie, in the north east of Glasgow, Scotland. It is informally known locally as The Big Hoose, Bar and Bar-L.[1][2] In 2018, plans for its closure were announced.
Barlinnie was designed by Major General Thomas Bernard Collinson, architect and engineer to the Scottish Prison Department, and it was built in the then rural area of Riddrie adjacent to the Monkland Canal (now the route of the M8 motorway), first opening with the commissioning of A hall in July 1882.
Barlinnie prison's five accommodation halls: A, B, C, D and E, were built in stages between 1882 and 1897, with each holding approximately 69 inmates.
There was a major extension to the perimeter in 1967 to create an industrial compound. From 1973 till 1994, the world-famous "Special Unit" placed emphasis on rehabilitation, the best known success story being that of reformed Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle. Cultural output associated with the Special Unit included Boyle's autobiography, A Sense of Freedom (1977); The Hardman (1977), the play Boyle wrote with Tom McGrath; a body of sculpture; and The Silent Scream (1979), a book of prose and poems by Larry Winters, who committed suicide in 1977.[3]
Each of the condemned men had been convicted of murder. All the executions took place at 8.00 am. As was the custom, the remains of all executed prisoners were the property of the state, and were therefore buried in unmarked graves within the walls of the prison. During the D hall renovations of 1997, the prison gallows cell (built into D-hall) was finally demolished and the remains of all the executed prisoners were exhumed for reburial elsewhere. The first man to escape from Barlinnie was John Dobbie, three days after being sentenced to 15 years for a violent robbery in 1985. Dobbie escaped inside a laundry van, he was captured by armed police five days later and was sentenced to a further five years.[5]
Current use
Today Barlinnie is the largest prison in Scotland, holding well over 1,000 prisoners although it has a design capacity of 987.[6] The prison currently receives prisoners from the courts in the West of Scotland as well as retaining male remand prisoners and prisoners serving less than 4-year sentences. It also allocates suitable prisoners from its convicted population to lower security prisons, including HMP Low Moss and HMP Greenock, as well as holding long-term prisoners in the initial phase of their sentence prior to transfer to long-term prisons such as HMP Glenochil, HMP Shotts, HMP Kilmarnock or HMP Grampian.
Barlinnie prison still consists of five accommodation halls with each holding approximately 200 inmates and an additional National Top End Facility (Letham Hall) housing long term prisoners nearing the end of their incarceration. All five accommodation halls were refurbished between 1997 and 2004. There is also a hospital unit with accommodation for 18 prisoners, which includes eight cells specially designed for suicide supervision. A new administration and visiting block was completed in 1999.
The in-cell bucket-as-toilet routine known as slopping out was still in practice there as late as 2003. Since 2001, refurbishment has taken place after critical reports by the Scottish Chief Inspector of Prisons.[7]
In October 2018, it was announced that HMP Barlinnie is to be sold and replaced with a new superjail within Glasgow or its outskirts.[8]
In 2019, local MP Paul Sweeney proposed that the historic prison buildings be saved from demolition and converted into a prison museum after it is decommissioned.[9]
In January 2020, the Prison Service announced that the proposed site for the replacement prison was a 22-hectare (54-acre) site adjacent to the nearby Provan Gas Works.[6]
Hugh Collins[12][13][14] – died 14 August 2021 aged 70. Glasgow Gangland figure, once dubbed Scotland's most dangerous prisoner, author and sculptor, married Caroline McNairn
Carrell, Christopher & Laing, Joyce (eds.) (1982), The Special Unit Barlinnie Prison: Its Evolution through its Art, Third Eye Centre, Glasgow, ISBN9780906474150
Ross, Anthony (1979), review of The Silent Scream by Larry Winters, in Cencrastus No. 1, Autumn 1979, pp. 7 & 8, ISSN 0264-0856
Ross, Anthony (1983), review of The Special Unit Barlinnie Prison: It's Evolution through its Art, in Hearn, Sheila G. (ed.), Cencrastus No. 11, New Year 1983, p. 48, ISSN 0264-0856
References
^Wollaston, Sam (3 November 2017). "Ross Kemp Behind Bars: Inside Barlinnie review – Ross gets the inmate experience, minus the strip-search". the Guardian. from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
^"Memories: Barlinnie, Glasgow's big hoose on the hill in 1958". Evening Times. from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
^Ross, Anthony (1979), The Silent Scream, in Bold, Christine (ed.), Cencrastus No1, Autumn 1979, pp. 7 & 8
^"Executions in Scottish prisons". www.capitalpunishmentuk.org. from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
^"Dangerous prisoner in second escape". The Herald. 16 January 1993. from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^ ab"Site purchased to replace Glasgow's Barlinnie prison". BBC News Online. 9 January 2020. from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
^"Slopping out 'must end'". BBC News. 3 October 2013. from the original on 13 July 2004. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
^Borland, Ben (10 February 2019). "'New Barlinnie' super jail set to be built near Glasgow gangster old heartlands". Daily Record. from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
^Stewart, Stephen (18 October 2019). "Barlinnie jail could be Scotland's new Alcatraz as MPs plan tourist attraction". Daily Record. from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
^Mega, Marcello (14 August 2021). "Killer Hugh Collins dubbed Scotland's most dangerous prisoner found dead". Daily Record. from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
^"In the company of wolves – Hugh Collins – Ajay Close". The Scotsman. Archived by Ajay Close. 23 September 2000. from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^Masters, Christopher (29 November 2010). "Caroline McNairn obituary". The Guardian. from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
^"SCOTTISH LEAGUE SFAQs". www.scottishleague.net. from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
^Gunn, David (21 October 2008). "Lockerbie bomber Al Megrahi treated for 'advanced cancer'". The Scotsman. from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
^Carrell, Severin (26 January 2011). "Tommy Sheridan sentenced to three years in prison". The Guardian. London. from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
prison, barlinnie, hoose, redirects, here, confused, with, house, largest, prison, scotland, operated, scottish, prison, service, located, residential, suburb, riddrie, north, east, glasgow, scotland, informally, known, locally, hoose, 2018, plans, closure, we. The Big Hoose redirects here Not to be confused with The Big House HM Prison Barlinnie is the largest prison in Scotland It is operated by the Scottish Prison Service and is located in the residential suburb of Riddrie in the north east of Glasgow Scotland It is informally known locally as The Big Hoose Bar and Bar L 1 2 In 2018 plans for its closure were announced HMP BarlinnieLocationRiddrie GlasgowCoordinates55 52 10 N 4 10 55 W 55 86944 N 4 18194 W 55 86944 4 18194 Coordinates 55 52 10 N 4 10 55 W 55 86944 N 4 18194 W 55 86944 4 18194StatusOperationalCapacity1018Population1600 approx Opened1882Managed byScottish Prison ServiceGovernorMichael Stoney Contents 1 History 1 1 Capital punishment 2 Current use 3 Notable former inmates 4 Further reading 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Aerial view of the prison 2018 showing its proximity to Smithycroft Secondary School and housing Barlinnie was designed by Major General Thomas Bernard Collinson architect and engineer to the Scottish Prison Department and it was built in the then rural area of Riddrie adjacent to the Monkland Canal now the route of the M8 motorway first opening with the commissioning of A hall in July 1882 Barlinnie prison s five accommodation halls A B C D and E were built in stages between 1882 and 1897 with each holding approximately 69 inmates There was a major extension to the perimeter in 1967 to create an industrial compound From 1973 till 1994 the world famous Special Unit placed emphasis on rehabilitation the best known success story being that of reformed Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle Cultural output associated with the Special Unit included Boyle s autobiography A Sense of Freedom 1977 The Hardman 1977 the play Boyle wrote with Tom McGrath a body of sculpture and The Silent Scream 1979 a book of prose and poems by Larry Winters who committed suicide in 1977 3 Capital punishment Edit A total of 10 judicial executions by hanging took place at HMP Barlinnie between 1947 and 1960 replacing the gallows at Duke Street Prison before the final abolition of capital punishment in the United Kingdom for murder in 1969 4 Date Name Age years Executioner8 February 1946 John Lyon 21 Thomas Pierrepoint6 April 1946 Patrick Carraher 39 Thomas Pierrepoint10 August 1946 John Caldwell 20 Albert Pierrepoint30 October 1950 Christopher Harris 28 Albert Pierrepoint16 December 1950 James Robertson 33 Albert Pierrepoint12 April 1952 James Smith 22 Albert Pierrepoint29 May 1952 Patrick Gallagher Deveney 42 Albert Pierrepoint26 January 1953 George Francis Shaw 25 Albert Pierrepoint11 July 1958 Peter Manuel 31 Harry Allen22 December 1960 Anthony Miller 19 Harry AllenEach of the condemned men had been convicted of murder All the executions took place at 8 00 am As was the custom the remains of all executed prisoners were the property of the state and were therefore buried in unmarked graves within the walls of the prison During the D hall renovations of 1997 the prison gallows cell built into D hall was finally demolished and the remains of all the executed prisoners were exhumed for reburial elsewhere The first man to escape from Barlinnie was John Dobbie three days after being sentenced to 15 years for a violent robbery in 1985 Dobbie escaped inside a laundry van he was captured by armed police five days later and was sentenced to a further five years 5 Current use EditToday Barlinnie is the largest prison in Scotland holding well over 1 000 prisoners although it has a design capacity of 987 6 The prison currently receives prisoners from the courts in the West of Scotland as well as retaining male remand prisoners and prisoners serving less than 4 year sentences It also allocates suitable prisoners from its convicted population to lower security prisons including HMP Low Moss and HMP Greenock as well as holding long term prisoners in the initial phase of their sentence prior to transfer to long term prisons such as HMP Glenochil HMP Shotts HMP Kilmarnock or HMP Grampian Barlinnie prison still consists of five accommodation halls with each holding approximately 200 inmates and an additional National Top End Facility Letham Hall housing long term prisoners nearing the end of their incarceration All five accommodation halls were refurbished between 1997 and 2004 There is also a hospital unit with accommodation for 18 prisoners which includes eight cells specially designed for suicide supervision A new administration and visiting block was completed in 1999 The in cell bucket as toilet routine known as slopping out was still in practice there as late as 2003 Since 2001 refurbishment has taken place after critical reports by the Scottish Chief Inspector of Prisons 7 In October 2018 it was announced that HMP Barlinnie is to be sold and replaced with a new superjail within Glasgow or its outskirts 8 In 2019 local MP Paul Sweeney proposed that the historic prison buildings be saved from demolition and converted into a prison museum after it is decommissioned 9 In January 2020 the Prison Service announced that the proposed site for the replacement prison was a 22 hectare 54 acre site adjacent to the nearby Provan Gas Works 6 Notable former inmates EditPaul Ferris 10 Glasgow Gangland figure Jimmy Boyle 11 Hugh Collins 12 13 14 died 14 August 2021 aged 70 Glasgow Gangland figure once dubbed Scotland s most dangerous prisoner author and sculptor married Caroline McNairn Duncan Ferguson 15 Peter Manuel Abdelbaset al Megrahi 16 Lockerbie bomber died of cancer in 2012 Tommy Sheridan 17 Scottish politicianFurther reading EditCarrell Christopher amp Laing Joyce eds 1982 The Special Unit Barlinnie Prison Its Evolution through its Art Third Eye Centre Glasgow ISBN 9780906474150 Ross Anthony 1979 review of The Silent Scream by Larry Winters in Cencrastus No 1 Autumn 1979 pp 7 amp 8 ISSN 0264 0856 Ross Anthony 1983 review of The Special Unit Barlinnie Prison It s Evolution through its Art in Hearn Sheila G ed Cencrastus No 11 New Year 1983 p 48 ISSN 0264 0856References Edit Wollaston Sam 3 November 2017 Ross Kemp Behind Bars Inside Barlinnie review Ross gets the inmate experience minus the strip search the Guardian Archived from the original on 17 April 2018 Retrieved 16 April 2018 Memories Barlinnie Glasgow s big hoose on the hill in 1958 Evening Times Archived from the original on 17 April 2018 Retrieved 16 April 2018 Ross Anthony 1979 The Silent Scream in Bold Christine ed Cencrastus No1 Autumn 1979 pp 7 amp 8 Executions in Scottish prisons www capitalpunishmentuk org Archived from the original on 20 February 2019 Retrieved 17 September 2014 Dangerous prisoner in second escape The Herald 16 January 1993 Archived from the original on 24 August 2022 Retrieved 24 August 2022 a b Site purchased to replace Glasgow s Barlinnie prison BBC News Online 9 January 2020 Archived from the original on 22 August 2020 Retrieved 9 January 2020 Slopping out must end BBC News 3 October 2013 Archived from the original on 13 July 2004 Retrieved 29 September 2013 Borland Ben 10 February 2019 New Barlinnie super jail set to be built near Glasgow gangster old heartlands Daily Record Archived from the original on 10 February 2019 Retrieved 4 May 2019 Stewart Stephen 18 October 2019 Barlinnie jail could be Scotland s new Alcatraz as MPs plan tourist attraction Daily Record Archived from the original on 24 January 2021 Retrieved 28 January 2021 The Ferris Conspiracy pp 86 91 A Sense of Freedom pp 85 89 Mega Marcello 14 August 2021 Killer Hugh Collins dubbed Scotland s most dangerous prisoner found dead Daily Record Archived from the original on 15 August 2021 Retrieved 15 August 2021 In the company of wolves Hugh Collins Ajay Close The Scotsman Archived by Ajay Close 23 September 2000 Archived from the original on 27 September 2020 Retrieved 15 August 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint others link Masters Christopher 29 November 2010 Caroline McNairn obituary The Guardian Archived from the original on 15 August 2021 Retrieved 15 August 2021 SCOTTISH LEAGUE SFAQs www scottishleague net Archived from the original on 6 February 2012 Retrieved 5 May 2012 Gunn David 21 October 2008 Lockerbie bomber Al Megrahi treated for advanced cancer The Scotsman Archived from the original on 8 July 2022 Retrieved 5 June 2010 Carrell Severin 26 January 2011 Tommy Sheridan sentenced to three years in prison The Guardian London Archived from the original on 17 October 2013 Retrieved 3 August 2012 External links Edit Scotland portalHMP Barlinnie on the SPS website Hanging With Frank video showing UK execution protocol at the old gallows in Barlinnie Prison Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HM Prison Barlinnie amp oldid 1125809314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
