French prisoner of war dominoes
Last updated | 10/09/2010
This box with its dominoes was made by French prisoners of war
at the Depot, Edinburgh Road, Perth. Some of the prisoners spent
their time making intricate objects of bone, like this box and
dominoes set, to sell or trade to local people.
The Depot became the core of today’s Perth Prison. It was
originally built to house prisoners captured during the Napoleonic
Wars. The first consignment of prisoners arrived in 1812 and in
very poor condition. The Depot could hold 7,000 prisoners and as it
required 300 soldiers to act as guards 3 regiments were stationed
in Perth, camped on the South Inch!
