George Heriot's School

Here is the wonderful George Heriot's school in Lauriston Place.

George Heriot's School is recognised as an important and outstanding example of Scots Renaissance architecture, displaying an exuberance of early 17th-century stone carving, much of it by William Wallace, the King's master mason.

George Heriot's School has a unique place in the history of Scottish education. Located in the heart of Old Edinburgh, the School has a lineage dating back to its Foundation in 1628. The inspiration was the generous bequest by the Founder - George Heriot, famed Jeweller to James VI and his Queen, Anne.

George Heriot's legitimate children all predeceased him, and he turned his mind to providing help to educate the children of his home town, Edinburgh. When he died in 1624, he left the princely sum of £23,625.10.3d to "the Proveist Baillies Ministeris and ordinarie Counsell of and for the tyme being of the Towne of Edinburgh for and towardis the funding the erecting of ane hospittill within the said Towne of Edinburgh in perpetuitie and for and twoardis the purchasing of certaine landis in perpetuitite to belong vnto the said hospittill to be imployit for the maintenance releif bringing vp and educatiowne of Puire fatherless bairnes friemens sones of that Towne of Edinburgh". A tradition which continues today and which has been extended to include the education of motherless children.

Getting closer to the weekend, hurrah!