Tam's Tall Tales

- Author Objects to High School Development


Royal High School, Edinburgh




Author Objects to High School Development

The old Royal High School building in central Edinburgh is a neoclassical gem, but its future is embroiled in controversy. The building, which was completed in 1829, stopped being used as a school in 1968 and for many years it was assumed that it would house the Scottish Parliament. That did not happen and it has not been much used in recent years.

Now there are plans to build a luxury hotel on the site and that has sparked off a right stushie. Alexander McCall Smith (pictured here), a local author has weighed in: "The Royal High School site is not the right place for this hotel. I hope that the developers find another site - this one is just too important to be used in this way.

"I hope, too, that those concerned with any review of this matter will listen very carefully to the profound objections voiced by so many people who are concerned with the preservation of the architectural heritage that brings so much attention and so many visitors to this magnificent city.""Edinburgh belongs not only to Scotland but to the world," said McCall Smith, who recently published A Work of Beauty, an appreciation of the city.

And David Black, chairman of Southside Association, slammed the proposals as "the architectural equivalent of putting Mickey Mouse ears and a moustache on the Mona Lisa"

Please give me whatever feedback comes to mind via tamfromrampant@gmail.com.

Tam O'Ranter
May 2014

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