Chapel, HMP Inverness, Duffy Drive, Inverness

HMP Inverness (formerly Porterfield Prison) was designed by HM Office of Works from 1899 and opened in 1902. J MacKintosh was the project architect acting under W W Robertson. The site, set within a high, coursed red sandstone boundary wall includes the chapel and the former male and female cell blocks all dating to the early 20th century.

There are a number of later extensions, additions and alterations to these buildings and on the site. In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: all other structures within the boundary walls, the entrance block and the rebuilt southwest corner of the boundary wall.

The former chapel is a 3 bay, 2-storey (with the upper storey breaking the eaves) building constructed of squared and coursed sandstone with ashlar margins, a rock-faced band course and a slate roof. There are round-arched keystoned openings to the ground floor and pointed-arched openings to the upper floor (the former chapel). There is a deeply moulded machicolated eaves course. There are crow-stepped gables and a central crow-stepped bellcote. The former chapel is on the first floor has a coombed ceiling with some plain timber roof trusses. Some later structures have been built within the space. There are no obvious surviving features which evidence its former chapel use.

Attached to the rear of the former chapel is the former male block (now known as B Hall). It is 9 bays long and 3-storeys high and is constructed from squared and coursed sandstone with ashlar margins. It has a deep base course and a machicolated eaves course. The majority of the window openings have been lengthened and there is replacement glazing. There is a large pair of machicolated ashlar ventilation chimneys flanking the roof ridge halfway along the slate roof. The interior of B Hall comprises a brick-built corridor plan with floors of regularly spaced cells opening off either side of the corridor. The design is simple and functional and there are few architectural features. The floors are supported by curved iron brackets.

To the west of the site (connected to the former chapel by a 20th century wing which is not of interest in listing terms) is the former female block (now known as A Hall). This consists of a 2 bay 2-storey block with deeply overhanging eaves and a piended slate roof. Attached to the rear is the former female cell block which is a smaller version of B Hall, with 7 bays and 2 storeys and a pair of ridge ventilators. At right angles to the east of A Hall are the smaller single storey slate-roofed former laundry and kitchen wings. A Hall is similarly detailed to B Hall but smaller with a single row of evenly spaced cells to the ground and first floors.