The history of capital punishment in previous centuries could be particularly brutal. One notable hangman of the 18th/19th Century was William Calcraft who officiated in Dumbarton in 1861. He was notable as, although he was a hangman for 45 years, it is said he was particularly incompetent. With Calcraft's methods the condemned took several minutes to die, to hasten death Calcraft would sometimes dramatically pull on legs or climb on shoulders in an effort to break a victim's neck. It has been speculated that Calcraft used these methods partly to entertain the crowds, sometimes numbering 30,000 spectators or more.
For the crime of Malefice or witchcraft, confessions were usually extracted under torture. Physical torture was not the normal method used in Scotland and use of any apparatus was rare. Regrettably Scots probably pioneered mental torture, in particular sleep deprivation. In the Dumbarton Common Good Accounts of the period, the burning of one accused cost 57 shillings for coals and peat. The executioner who provided the ropes, bound and strangled the so called witches, received 10 shillings and 4 pence. In 1644, another accused was executed. It took five loads of coals, seven loads of peat and two barrels of tar to finish the job.
And so with these thoughts, onto our walk.
Dumbarton Prison
The prison was opened in the rowdy aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. The last execution took place here in 1875, and after the prison closed in 1883 the building became a Council records store, before lying derelict until demolition in 1973. A portico, Coat of Arms and some cell windows remain in the existing wall.
How many windows are on the east wall? Add 1 and this is A
The Sherrif Court House
This pavilion-roofed Georgian mansion was originally a jail and court house, replacing the Old Tolbooth of 1640 on the High Street. It was later used as Dunbarton County Buildings.
Looking at the front left there are a number of benches. Take this number and add 1. This is D. NOTE: Due to building works the benches may not be visible so in the meantime, there is one bench so D=2.
The Glencairn Greit House
Glencairn Greit House was built as the town house of the Earls of Glencairn and later the Dukes of Argyll. It stood beside the Mercat Cross, and faced up Cross Vennel, or College Street. Looking to the nearby crossing, this is close to the site of the Old Dumbarton Tolbooth and Gallows which was replaced with the prison and court you have just visited.
Looking across the road, how many trees are there? This is C
From the Blue Plaque on the wall what is the second number on the date? This is E
View of Dumbarton Castle
From here you can see Dumbarton Castle which is said to have housed many prisoners including, William Wallace, the infamous William De Soulis and French Prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars.
From the nearby information board, you can read some history of Dumbarton Castle. Saint Partick wrote of Dumbarton Castle in a letter to King Coroticus in which century? This is B
Behind you on the left is a bench with a lamppost behind it. There is a number under the letter F. Divide this number by 2 this is F
The Final Corodinates are:-
N55 56.ABC
W004 34.DEF