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Peterhead: The Inside Story of Scotland's Toughest Prison
Robert Jeffrey, author of the bestselling Barlinnie Story and other true crime books, now tells the remarkable story of the infamous Peterhead Prison in Scotland's far north-east. Built in the 1880s as part of an ambitious humanitarian plan to use convict labour to construct a 'harbour of refuge' on the town's wild, storm-battered coast, it became what some call Scotland's gulag.
A cold and brutal place, it has held down the years some of Scotland's most violent criminals and most infamous prisoners, convicted of the most heinous of crimes. In the early days, convicts were controlled by men as hard as their charges. The wardens carried swords and were quick to use them if necessary. And when convict labour was used to build the harbour, they worked with rifles trained on them at all times. Peterhead's wardens were clearly not to be crossed. Throughout the history of the prison, riots and breakouts have made headlines, with the SAS involved in restoring order at one point....
A cold and brutal place, it has held down the years some of Scotland's most violent criminals and most infamous prisoners, convicted of the most heinous of crimes. In the early days, convicts were controlled by men as hard as their charges. The wardens carried swords and were quick to use them if necessary. And when convict labour was used to build the harbour, they worked with rifles trained on them at all times. Peterhead's wardens were clearly not to be crossed. Throughout the history of the prison, riots and breakouts have made headlines, with the SAS involved in restoring order at one point....
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 7, 2014
Description: Robert Jeffrey, author of the bestselling Barlinnie Story and other true crime books, now tells the remarkable story of the infamous Peterhead Prison in Scotland's far north-east. Built in the 1880s as part of an ambitious humanitarian plan to use convict labour to construct a 'harbour of refuge' on the town's wild, storm-battered coast, it became what some call Scotland's gulag. A cold and brutal place, it has held down the years some of Scotland's most violent criminals and most infamous prisoners, convicted of the most heinous of crimes.
In the early days, convicts were controlled by men as hard as their charges. The wardens carried swords and were quick to use them if necessary. And when convict labour was used to build the harbour, they worked with rifles trained on them at all times. Peterhead's wardens were clearly not to be crossed. Throughout the history of the prison, riots and breakouts have made headlines, with the SAS involved in restoring order at one point.
Peterhead also had the reputation of being so secure that escape was impossible, with the notable exception of Johnny Ramensky, the safeblower turned war hero who went back to his criminal ways and spent more than forty years of his life in prison, many of them in Peterhead. He became the first inmate to escape and repeated the exercise four more times, often for his own satisfaction and amusement, each time being recaptured after a short taste of freedom. Peterhead - Scotland's Toughest Prison tells the remarkable inside story of a truly grim institution with a fearsome reputation.
Opening: To a miserable wretch of a prisoner in the new Peterhead Prison, just opened in 1888, there was one maritime connection that few would have realised. Remarkably, the reason why the lawbreakers – a few hundred in the early days – were incarcerated in this particular area in the North-East of Scotland, on the edge of the turbulent waters of the North Sea, surrounded by howling winds, slanting snow and sleet and mighty breakers, had much to do with the habits of the whale. The giant cetaceans were breeding and feeding in the icy waters around Greenland, and in the later part of the nineteenth century the hard-as-nails east coast fishermen from both north and south of the Scottish border took to the seas to chase and catch these gentle giants of the deep and take meat and oil from them south.
Location 6/187: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was one of those who succumbed to the lure of the north when studying medicine in Edinburgh. In the late 1880s he joined the crew of a three-master called Hope as ship’s surgeon, and headed north.
Fishing fleet, Peterhead.
Author:
Robert Jeffrey is a long-serving Glasgow journalist and the former managing editor of the Herald group of newspapers. His many bestsellers include Glasgow's Hard Men, Blood on the Streets, Glasgow's Godfather and Gentle Johnny Ramensky.
In the early days, convicts were controlled by men as hard as their charges. The wardens carried swords and were quick to use them if necessary. And when convict labour was used to build the harbour, they worked with rifles trained on them at all times. Peterhead's wardens were clearly not to be crossed. Throughout the history of the prison, riots and breakouts have made headlines, with the SAS involved in restoring order at one point.
Peterhead also had the reputation of being so secure that escape was impossible, with the notable exception of Johnny Ramensky, the safeblower turned war hero who went back to his criminal ways and spent more than forty years of his life in prison, many of them in Peterhead. He became the first inmate to escape and repeated the exercise four more times, often for his own satisfaction and amusement, each time being recaptured after a short taste of freedom. Peterhead - Scotland's Toughest Prison tells the remarkable inside story of a truly grim institution with a fearsome reputation.
Opening: To a miserable wretch of a prisoner in the new Peterhead Prison, just opened in 1888, there was one maritime connection that few would have realised. Remarkably, the reason why the lawbreakers – a few hundred in the early days – were incarcerated in this particular area in the North-East of Scotland, on the edge of the turbulent waters of the North Sea, surrounded by howling winds, slanting snow and sleet and mighty breakers, had much to do with the habits of the whale. The giant cetaceans were breeding and feeding in the icy waters around Greenland, and in the later part of the nineteenth century the hard-as-nails east coast fishermen from both north and south of the Scottish border took to the seas to chase and catch these gentle giants of the deep and take meat and oil from them south.
Location 6/187: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was one of those who succumbed to the lure of the north when studying medicine in Edinburgh. In the late 1880s he joined the crew of a three-master called Hope as ship’s surgeon, and headed north.
Fishing fleet, Peterhead.Author:
Robert Jeffrey is a long-serving Glasgow journalist and the former managing editor of the Herald group of newspapers. His many bestsellers include Glasgow's Hard Men, Blood on the Streets, Glasgow's Godfather and Gentle Johnny Ramensky.
May 4, 2014
This book was a real eye opener. I have lived in the nearby city of Aberdeen for many years, but had no idea that the Peterhead prison was built in the late 19th century to house convict labour.
This was seen as an economic means to build a Harbour of Refuge as a safe haven for the shipping caught in the wild North Sea gales.
The awful conditions under which the inmates both worked on the project for many decades - and the hardship endured in this dreadful prison, is worth reading by all who have strong views on what prisons should be for.
This was seen as an economic means to build a Harbour of Refuge as a safe haven for the shipping caught in the wild North Sea gales.
The awful conditions under which the inmates both worked on the project for many decades - and the hardship endured in this dreadful prison, is worth reading by all who have strong views on what prisons should be for.
July 24, 2021
Now a bit dated in terms of the latest in prison policy (and the changing prison estate in the North East) but an interesting enough survey of the origins of Peterhead prison and it's various prison populations over the years.
My mum lived in Peterhead and vividly recalls the alarms sounding when there had been an escapee. It was interesting reading more about this period, as well as some of the individual stories of the staff and prisoners who experienced the institution.
My mum lived in Peterhead and vividly recalls the alarms sounding when there had been an escapee. It was interesting reading more about this period, as well as some of the individual stories of the staff and prisoners who experienced the institution.
January 28, 2020
Bleak and harsh the story of Peterhead Prison tells of a tough regime for inmates and guards. Scotland’s prisons rely on Victorian buildings and until recently what seemed a wish to punish rather than rehabilitation.
The book tells on the original concept , the criminals who rotted in the cells , the conditions , the riots and the hope that the new jail will improve things for all concerned.
Scotland’s Alcatraz or Devils Island ?
The book tells on the original concept , the criminals who rotted in the cells , the conditions , the riots and the hope that the new jail will improve things for all concerned.
Scotland’s Alcatraz or Devils Island ?
January 14, 2019
2.5 out of 5 stars
June 27, 2025
Interesting and definitely can feel a potential obsession with Gentle Johnny Ramensky coming on.
Really liked the informal tone but too!many! exclamation!marks!
Really liked the informal tone but too!many! exclamation!marks!
March 6, 2015
I thought the book was well written about life behind bars. Amazed to read how a prisoner managed to escape so many times. Having seen the new facilities of Peterhead Prison, can't imagine a hard life behind bars.
Would like to see another book written in about 10 years time about life behind bars in the new prison.
Would like to see another book written in about 10 years time about life behind bars in the new prison.
January 5, 2015
Full review here...
http://aberdeenvoice.com/2013/11/pete...
http://aberdeenvoice.com/2013/11/pete...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews