The Tolbooth, at the Harbour in Stonehaven, is the Town's oldest building and in its long history since it was built by the 5th Earl Marischal of Scotland in the late 16th Century has been a magistrate's court and jail.

Notable incarcerations include three Episcopalian insters who in 1749 were sentenced to 6 months for breaching an Act of Assembly. Less lucky was Angus Moffat who in 1699 though innocent of the charge of sheep stealing (which had been done by her common law husband) was incarcerated prior to hanging on Gallow Hill in nearby Dunnottar Woods.

Racing forward over 300 years in order to help keep the Tolbooth from closure, stimulate local culture and heritage, contemporary artisans in storytelling, poetry, art, song and music have been asked to be "incarcerated in the Tolbooth" jail for a couple of hours each Sunday over the Summer months as an official Resident!!!

Maggie Fraser, local raconteur and organic fruit grower! "kicked-off" the residencies last Sunday with Storytelling which helped push the visitor number to 170 for the day. Over
the next two Sunday's from 2-3pm Grainne Smith will be Poet In-Residence.

Grainne writes both in English and Doric poetry, plays, fiction and non-fiction, whatever Grainne rites tells a story, or as one friend put it 'Always a story up her hand-knitted sleeve...'

www.grainnesmith.co.uk

Other notable local artisans who have pledged their support to keeping the Tolbooth open and "alive" is the popular and talented Scottish Fiddler Paul Anderson
www.tarlandfiddler.info/ whom it is hoped will be In-Residence at the Tolbooth jail on the last Sunday of July or a Sunday in August.