The hidden histories of prisoner-patients locked up in Perth during the Victorian era is explored in an exhibition which opens today in Edinburgh. Archivist Jocelyn Grant with records from the display. Picture: Steve MacDougall.

Monikie-raised Jocelyn Grant – senior outreach manager with the National Records of Scotland (NRS), who helped curate the exhibition – was struck by how “compassionate” the authorities were to “lunatics” in the days of the Criminal Lunatic Department at Perth.

“What’s interesting is the process that’s been gone through to determine whether these people were lunatics or not and how best to treat them,” she said, adding that the records gave a real snapshot of social history.

The NRS archives touch on every aspect of Scottish life. In particular, they have a lot of records relating to criminal prosecutions and court proceedings which means they can give a very detailed look at lives that might not otherwise have been recorded.

“It’s an odd situation,” said Jocelyn, “that if you have an ancestor who was a criminal, we probably have more information about them than if they were a law-abiding citizen.”

Paul Lowe, chief executive of NRS, said: “Professor Houston and NRS archivists have brought together a collection of fascinating items that tell a compelling story about people furthest from public sympathy with great dignity and humanity.”

The exhibition runs until August 30 at the Matheson Dome, General Register House, 2 Princes Street, Edinburgh. Opening times are 10am to 4.30pm, and admission is free.

A compelling story about people furthest from public sympathy. PAUL LOWE

Pictures: SteveMacDougall. Left: Professor Rab Houston, with the rare prison register at the Matheson Dome. Top: An entry from the register. Above: NRS senior outreach manager Jocelyn Grant. Below: Coming face to face with the past.