HM Prison Castle Huntly


(Castle Huntly)

Located just to the southwest of Longforgan, 10 miles (16 km) west of Dundee and a similar distance east of Perth, Castle Huntly is one of only two open prisons in Scotland. It is now run alongside the other, HM Prison Noranside, under a single governor. Castle Huntly provides low-security accommodation for up to 150 'Category D' adult male prisoners, who are serving sentences from 18 months up to and including life.

Built in 1452, Castle Huntly was purchased as a borstal in 1947 and has subsequently been extended to include prisoner accommodation wings, kitchens, a gymnasium and an employment complex which places prisoners on local and community projects.

The castle was built on a rock in the middle of the Carse of Gowrie for Sir Andrew Gray (c.1390 - 1469, to replace his overcrowded castle at Fowlis. In 1614, it was purchased by Patrick Lyon, 1st Earl of Kinghorne (1575 - 1615). In 1647, it became a residence of Patrick, 1st Earl of Strathmore (1643-95) who extended the castle and made many improvements. It was further extended in the 18th and 19th Centuries. The North Gate, which was rebuilt at its present location in 1783, is noteworthy.


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