Heart of Midlothian
Marking the site of the Old Tolbooth and imprisonment of Covenanters
About this Site
The Heart of Midlothian is a heart-shaped mosaic set into the cobblestones of the Royal Mile, marking the entrance to the Old Tolbooth. This ancient building served as Edinburgh's principal prison, tax collection point, and place of execution for over 400 years. Many Covenanters were imprisoned within its walls, enduring harsh conditions for their refusal to conform to episcopalian governance.
c.1800
Historical Significance
The Old Tolbooth was a place of suffering for countless Presbyterians who were detained, tried, and sometimes executed for their beliefs. The Heart of Midlothian serves as a permanent reminder of the judicial persecution faced by the Covenanters and the price of dissent against established authority. It symbolises the thin line between justice and oppression.