A cultural icon finally finds a use: Old Royal High School, Edinburgh to become a National Centre for Music incorporating St Mary's Music School

Visualisation of plans for Royal High School, Edinburgh
(courtesy of Royal High School Preservation Trust)

Designed by Thomas Hamilton, the Royal High School was erected on Edinburgh's Calton Hill in the 1820s, a Greek-style building in keeping with the other monuments on the hill. The school moved out, to bigger premises, in 1968 since when the Royal High School has been a building in search of an identity and use. Ideas have come and gone; work was done in the 1970s in run up to the 1979 devolution referendum and I remember occasional concerts there at that period. It famously didn't become the Scottish Parliament in the 1990s and this century has seen controversial plans to create a hotel. 

But a sensible use has finally been found, one which in many ways respects the building's origins. It is going to become a school.

Edinburgh City Council has approved plans, put forward by the Royal High School Preservation Trust to convert the Royal High School as a home for a new National Centre for Music incorporating St Mary's Music School, Scotland's national music school, along with other partners including the Benedetti Foundation and IMPACT (International Music and Performing Arts Charitable Trust) Scotland. The plans include a café, gallery and visitor centre, set in generous and fully accessible public gardens. The bid is backed by an expanded gift from philanthropist Carol Colburn Grigor and Dunard Fund totalling £55 million to cover the capital costs and support the future maintenance of the Thomas Hamilton building. 

Further information from St Mary's Music School website, and Royal High School Preservation Trust.