Fettes College, Carrington Road

Fettes College in Inverleith is a very posh private (Public to you Englishers) school founded in 1870.

To perpetuate the memory of his only son William, who had predeceased him in 1815, Sir William Fettes (1750?1836), a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh and wealthy city merchant, bequeathed the then very large sum of £166,000 to be set aside for the education of poor children and orphans.

After his death the bequest was effected and invested and the accumulated sum was then used to acquire the land, to build the main building and found the school in 1870. Fettes College thus opened with 53 pupils (40 were Foundation Scholars with 11 others boarding & 2 day pupils).

The Headmaster who provoked most controversy was Anthony Chenevix-Trench (1971?79), formerly of Eton. The investigative journalist Paul Foot wrote an exposé in Private Eye detailing his excessive use of corporal punishment while he was a Housemaster at Shrewsbury School. Tim Card, a former Vice-provost of Eton College, said Chenevix-Trench's resignation from that school was caused by his heavy drinking and his overuse of the cane.

Probably, the most famous ex pupil is Tony Blair, the ex Prime Minister.