It was also the place where Edinburgh residents paid their taxes, from whence came its name.
The Old Tolbooth prison was primarily used to hold death row convicts who were due to be hanged shortly.
The prison, Hugo Arnot wrote, has no ventilators, or water-pipe, or a privy.
They had beds belonging to themselves; and in one room, we observed a pot on the fire.
In response, the town council built a new building where members of the Burgh Council could meet.
The Old Tolbooth survived for another 250 years until it was demolished in 1817.
But Edinburghs residents were not ready to let go of its legacy.
The book is regarded to be Scotts finest work.
Since then it has become a local custom to spit on the heart for good luck.
People spitting on The Heart of Midlothian.
Image credit:Lee Carson/Flickr
Image credit:Nick Callaghan/Flickr
