Heriot's Hospital

Category

Library Item

Item no

8823

Title

Heriot's Hospital

Description

The towers of Heriot's Hospital stand behind a stone wall and balustrade, which leads down to a lawn. Boys are playing cricket, one is holding a cricket bat and the stumps are placed on the grass. The boys are wearing glengarry hats. The school has large square towers at each corner, which are festooned with small cupola. An oriel window can be seen to the front with arched tracery windows on either side.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1850

Size

15.6 x 22 cm

Type

Lithograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

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

Education > Educational facilities > Schools

People > Children > Children playing

Places > Edinburgh areas > Tollcross

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > George Heriot's School

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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