CLINTZ HOUSE - THE PRISON, HARBOUR ROAD

Category: B
HARBOUR ROAD, FORMER JAIL AND POLICE STATION, BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATE-PIERS

Description:
Built 1848. Former county jail and police station in Neo-Tudor style. Rubble with polished red sandstone angles and margins. T plan 2-storey and attic; offices to front, prison to rear. Front Elevation: (projecting jamb of) has tall thin advanced outer bays flanking gabled centre, originally with symmetrical windows, one now enlarged at 1st floor. Single bipartite to ground; 2 single lights and wide bipartite to 1st; small attic light. All windows hoodmoulded, sash and case with plate glass glazing. At outer bays and to gable apex tall octagonal ashlar stacks. To rear: 5-hay, 2-storey block with cells to ground lit by small rectangular- windows placed hugh up. 5 single light 1st floor windows, sash and case with mixed 2 and link walls to sides with sandstone dressings. Pedestrian gate to left, vehicular opening to right. 12-pane glazing. End skews, tall octagonal ashlar stacks. Rubble walls support decorative cast-iron railings; rusticated granite gatepiers.

Notes: (Known as Clintz House)
Date Listed: 20/07/197


The Prison 1895

An extract from Gordon Fraser's 'Sketches and Anecdotes 'from the Harbour Proceeding townwards the large many-chimnied building on our left is the Prison for the lower district of the county - Governor McNerney.

One would think, looking at the building from the outside, that the following paragraph written in the Gallovidian should not apply to such a spacious edifice:- Oct. 1st 1853: 'There are at present 18 prisoners in Wigtown Jail which was constructed for 9 only. It is to be hoped that the present state of crime will soon change; otherwise an addition to the present building will be necessary.'


1884 Alexander Ross Police Sergeant Police Station and House per C.A. McLean, county clerk - see extracts from the Log
1890 Alexander Ross Police Sergeant 'The Clintz'
1900 John McGill Police Sergeant Tenant
1912 William Ewing Police Inspector No visitors entry for 1912
1913 entry states: 'Inspected cells and all in good order, no prisoners - John Gilmour'….
1947 The poor condition of the buildings and cells is raised again by Mr James Moodie….
1949 Jail Closed. The dampness was never cured and the womens cell fireplace with the draughts was never bricked up.
2003 Privately owned and currently under restoration.