Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum
The museum has a number of artefacts associated with Stonehaven’s heritage, many with an association with the days when the building served as a prison. For example, visitors can view an original cell door, the Inverbervie stocks (one of the few seven hole stocks in the UK) and the Crank - a punishment device which was weighted down and had to be turned by prisoners. Tightening the screw would make it harder for the prisoner. (This is why prison guards are called screws).
Kitchen and household bygone day's items are on display such as a hand powered washing machine, tattie chipper and spurtle.
Display boards commemorate the discovery of the fossil of the first known oxygen-breathing animal (Pneumodesmus newmani) on land at nearby Cowie by Mike Newman. The fossil has been dated to 428 million years ago.
The museum is very family orientated and we encourage visits from the young generation. One of the main attractions is the free dinosaur hunt where you can find hidden dinosaurs and receive a token lucky dip prize.
