Heriot's Hospital from Free Library, George IV Bridge

Category

Library Item

Item no

18195

Title

Heriot's Hospital from window in Free Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Description

A view out of a window looking across rooftops to George Heriot's School building. The school is a large square building with castellated towers at each corner and many windows. Smoke rises from chimneys of the roofs in the foreground.

Artist / maker

Smith, John

Date

1927

Size

11.8 x 7 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This is a photograph from the book 'Origin, nomenclature and location of various houses and streets in Edinburgh'.

George Heriot was a famous and wealthy Edinburgh goldsmith and moneylender. When he died in 1624 he left a considerable sum of money to establish a school for the poor and parentless in Edinburgh. Construction of George Heriot's Hospital began in 1628 but was not finished until 1650. It was almost immediately appropriated by Cromwell for use as a military hospital. It resumed its role as a school and home for orphans in 1659. It later came to be known as George Heriot's School, and now operates as an independent mixed school.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Education > Educational facilities > Schools

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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