Prison museum experiences to be analysed under new research project

The study, undertaken by Robert Gordon University, will explore how visitors examine and experience different types of exhibits at the former HM Prison Peterhead – now home to the popular Peterhead Prison Museum.

Collated by gathering video footage of people’s live reactions, the data will be analysed and form the basis of a report which will determine how the public react to various exhibitions – including a life-like murder and isolated prison cells.

The project, Talking about Prisons, is funded by The British Academy. Leading on it is Dr Rachael Ironside, Associate Professor, Robert Gordon University. She said: "We are excited to start this project which seeks to explore visitor interaction at several exhibits within Peterhead Prison Museum.

“Dark tourism and prison museums have received increased academic and public attention in recent years, however, we still know relatively little about how people make sense of and engage with subjects that may be considered 'difficult heritage’.

“Peterhead Prison Museum presents a fantastic opportunity to investigate these issues and we are incredibly grateful for all their support and enthusiasm for the project.

“We hope that our research will provide insight into our relationship with difficult heritage in a way that hasn't been explored previously while also helping museums to design exhibitions based on an increased understanding of how its visitors negotiate complex, and often troubling, aspects of human history.”

Alex Geddes, Operations Manager, Peterhead Prison Museum, said: “I am so excited about this research and to see the outcome at the other end. The project will hopefully shine a light on the work we do in dealing with difficult heritage and if the outcome also supports others in a similar field, then for me personally it is a win, win.

“It has been a delight to work with Robert Gordon University over the years relating to tourism, dark tourism, and events management.

“Our close working relationship is a bond that I feel has supported the development of the museum and receiving feedback from fresh eyes has been beneficial to the ongoing development of our visitor attraction. I would like to thank all involved over the years from the University.”

Having been built in 1888, HM Prison Peterhead eventually closed in 2013 after over 100 years of keeping some of Scotland’s worst criminals.

Alex Geddes, a former member of the police himself, took on the role of turning the site into a museum and it has since grown hugely in popularity to become a five-star tourist attraction thanks to its unique perception into life behind bars.

Committed to developing the region’s social, economic and cultural offerings, RGU has worked extensively with Peterhead Prison Museum in a two-way relationship which benefit researchers, students and the attraction itself.

The collation of research data remains ongoing.

Main image shows Dr Rachael Ironside; Alex Geddes; and Alona Roitershtein, Research Assistant.