The Old Royal High School, perched prominently on the southern slope of Calton Hill, is one of Edinburgh’s most remarkable neoclassical buildings and a symbol of the city’s ambitions during the Enlightenment and beyond. With its grand colonnaded façade overlooking Regent Road and the New Town, the building has stood as a testament to the aspirations of education, democracy, and civic pride. Though it has spent much of its history without a permanent purpose, the Old Royal High School remains one of Edinburgh’s most architecturally significant monuments and a focal point of debates about heritage and modern use.
Origins of the Royal High School
The Royal High School of Edinburgh has a history stretching back more than 800 years, making it one of the oldest schools in Scotland and in the wider European world. Its origins can be traced to around 1128, when it was associated with the Abbey of Holyrood. Over centuries, the school grew in reputation, attracting pupils from across Scotland and beyond.
By the late 18th century, Edinburgh was at the center of the Scottish Enlightenment, producing some of Europe’s greatest philosophers, scientists, and literary figures. The city was becoming known as the “Athens of the North,” and its educational institutions, including the Royal High School, played a key role in cultivating intellectual life.
The existing premises of the school, however, were deemed inadequate for its status and for the aspirations of the city. A grand new building was proposed that would reflect Edinburgh’s cultural and educational importance, while also providing a home befitting the school’s prestige.
Design and Construction
The commission for the new school building went to Thomas Hamilton (1784–1858), one of Scotland’s leading architects and a major proponent of the Greek Revival style. Hamilton’s design drew heavily on classical Greek architecture, particularly the Parthenon in Athens and other Athenian temples, aligning with Edinburgh’s image as the “Athens of the North.”
Construction began in 1826 and was completed in 1829. The result was one of the most striking neoclassical structures in Britain. Built on Calton Hill, the school commanded sweeping views across the city, its grand portico and columned façade making an immediate impression.
The main building features a central Doric portico with six massive columns, flanked by symmetrical wings. The design exudes order, balance, and authority, while also emphasizing the importance of learning and civic virtue. The elevated position of the school symbolized the lofty ideals of education and enlightenment, literally overlooking the city it served.
The Royal High School on Calton Hill
From 1829 until 1968, the Old Royal High School was the seat of education for generations of pupils. The building contained classrooms, lecture halls, and spaces for study and debate. Students were trained in a rigorous classical curriculum, with an emphasis on Latin, Greek, literature, philosophy, and history.
The school attracted international attention, and its reputation extended well beyond Scotland. The curriculum and teaching methods of the Royal High School served as models for educational institutions abroad. Notably, the curriculum of the United States’ high school system was influenced by the example of the Edinburgh Royal High School.
Prominent figures educated at the school include Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, as well as numerous political leaders, scholars, and writers who left their mark on Scotland and the wider world.
The Abandonment of the Building
By the mid-20th century, the needs of the Royal High School had outgrown the historic Calton Hill premises. The growth of the school’s enrollment and the requirements of modern education meant that the building no longer met functional needs.
In 1968, the Royal High School moved to a new site at Barnton, in the western part of Edinburgh. The Calton Hill building was left empty, its future uncertain. Despite its architectural magnificence, the structure faced decades of neglect, debates, and proposals for reuse.
The Almost-Parliament
Perhaps the most famous chapter in the building’s modern history came in the 1970s and 1990s, when the Old Royal High School was proposed as the home of a Scottish Parliament.
In 1979, when Scotland held a referendum on devolution, the Calton Hill building was earmarked as a potential parliamentary home. The referendum failed to pass, and the plan was shelved.
Two decades later, in the 1990s, as the devolution debate gained momentum again, the Old Royal High School was once more considered for the seat of the Scottish Parliament. Its grand design and symbolic presence seemed ideal for a national legislature. However, after much debate, the decision was made to build a new Parliament at Holyrood, near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, at the base of the Royal Mile.
This decision left the Old Royal High School in limbo once more.
Later Proposals and Controversy
Since the 2000s, the Old Royal High School has been at the center of controversy over redevelopment. Various proposals have been put forward for the building’s use, including conversion into a luxury hotel, a concert hall, or a cultural venue.
The hotel proposals in particular sparked heated debates between developers, heritage groups, and the public. Opponents argued that turning such a historically and architecturally significant building into a private hotel would be a desecration of its legacy. Supporters countered that adaptive reuse was better than continued dereliction.
After years of dispute, in 2021, the hotel proposals were finally rejected. Instead, the building is now slated for transformation into a national music school—a new home for St Mary’s Music School—ensuring that the Old Royal High School will once again serve an educational and cultural purpose.
Architectural Significance
Architecturally, the Old Royal High School is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United Kingdom. Its grandeur lies not only in its resemblance to an ancient temple but also in the clarity of its proportions and the dignity of its setting.
The building is part of a broader neoclassical ensemble on Calton Hill, which includes the National Monument (modeled on the Parthenon), the Nelson Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument, and the City Observatory. Collectively, these structures reinforced Edinburgh’s classical identity during the 19th century.
The Old Royal High School is a Category A listed building, underscoring its national importance and ensuring protection under conservation law. Its presence contributes to Edinburgh’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Symbolism and Identity
The Old Royal High School is more than an architectural gem; it is a symbol of Scottish identity, culture, and ambition. Its commanding site on Calton Hill places it in dialogue with both the Old and New Towns, physically bridging Edinburgh’s medieval past and Enlightenment present.
As a school, it embodied the Scottish commitment to education, a tradition that has long been central to the nation’s identity. As a potential parliament building, it symbolized the aspirations for political self-determination. And as a cultural venue in the 21st century, it reflects the ongoing effort to balance heritage with modern needs.
The Old Royal High School Today
Although the building has spent much of the past half-century unused, it remains one of Edinburgh’s most photographed and admired landmarks. Visitors walking along Regent Road or climbing Calton Hill cannot fail to notice its temple-like façade, stark against the skyline.
Events and exhibitions have occasionally been held in the building, and heritage organizations continue to work on plans for its long-term reuse. The decision to transform it into a music school and cultural hub marks a hopeful future, one that reconnects the Old Royal High School with its original purpose: education and inspiration.
Conclusion
The Old Royal High School on Calton Hill is a building that embodies Edinburgh’s intellectual, cultural, and political history. From its role as a pioneering educational institution to its near role as the home of the Scottish Parliament, the building has been at the heart of the nation’s story.
Architecturally, it remains one of the finest Greek Revival structures in Britain, its temple-like design a reminder of the ideals of learning and democracy that defined 19th-century Edinburgh. Symbolically, it has carried the hopes of generations, whether as a school shaping young minds, a candidate for parliamentary democracy, or a cultural beacon awaiting rebirth.
As it moves toward a new chapter as a national music school, the Old Royal High School seems poised to combine its illustrious past with a meaningful future. For visitors to Edinburgh, it stands as a must-see landmark: a building that not only tells the story of the city’s history but also continues to inspire new possibilities.
