Old Royal High School, Edinburgh, Scotland

Introduction

This evening, I am focusing on an intriguing piece of Scottish architecture which sits prominently on the Edinburgh skyline. However, it is not open to the public at present. The subject building is the Royal High School which dates from 1825-29 and was designed by Thomas Hamilton.

Information on the Old Royal High School, Edinburgh

This is considered a building of international standing.Through integration of design with the nearby National Monument it helped to contribute to Edinburgh’s nickname Athens of the North. This feature can be appreciated in the image below (Calton Hill Skyline).. This shows the Parthenon-style National Monument directly above and behind the Royal High School. The Greek Doric columns are based on the Temple of Theseus overlooking Athens.

Internally, there is a central Doric temple which contains a splendid oval hall with shallow coffered ceiling and cast iron columns supporting the balcony.

Calton Hill in Winter

The subject building ceased to be a school in 1968 but after a long haitus is currently undergoing a transformation. The project entails the building housing the National Centre for Music through conversion as a venue for music education and performance. Integral to the project is the creation of auditoriums, rehearsal spaces, a public garden and cafe. It is anticipated the new National Centre will offer concerts, outreach programs and celebrate Scotland’s rich tradition of music and performance.

More Information

Refer this page for information on noteworthy architecture sites in Edinburgh.

The publication ‘Visitors’ Guide to Scotland’ contains information on Scottish architecture and Edinburgh. ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.