Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh

Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh
Map
Former namesPretorium Burgi
General information
TypeMunicipal building
Architectural styleScottish Medieval
LocationHigh Street
Town or cityEdinburgh
CountryScotland
Coordinates55°56′57.95″N 3°11′30.21″W / 55.9494306°N 3.1917250°W / 55.9494306; -3.1917250
Construction started1386
Completedc. 1400
Renovated1561
Demolished1817

The Old Tolbooth was an important municipal building in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland for more than 400 years. The medieval structure, which was located at the northwest corner of St Giles' Cathedral and was attached to the west end of the Luckenbooths on the High Street in the Old Town, was first established in the 14th century by royal charter. Over the years it served a variety of purposes such as housing the Burgh Council, early meetings of the Parliament of Scotland and the Court of Session. The Tolbooth was also the burgh's main jail where, in addition to incarceration, physical punishment and torture were routinely conducted. From 1785 public executions were carried out. In 1817 the buildings, which had been rebuilt and renovated several times, were demolished.