Prisoner's ship carving
Edinburgh Castle
3 July 2007
Many of the prisoners held in Edinburgh Castle were sailors. Some were from foreign navies, while others were merchant seamen. During the American War of Independence, captured sailors were considered to be pirates.
Original doors from the prisons are on display in the castle, complete with carvings by prisoners. Some of the carvings by 18th century prisoners that are visible include a hangman's scaffold for "Lord Nord" (Lord North, British Prime Minister at the time); and a sketch of one of the prisoner's ships, which is shown in this photograph.