Donaldson’s School in Edinburgh is reminiscent of Hogwarts – playful, ornate, enchanted. But it was much more important socially.
The building, now known as The Playfair at Donaldson’s, was once a school for the deaf, donated by its namesake as part of his estate.
Donaldson’s School is located on the A8 road into Edinburgh city centre in the West Coates area. If you take the bus from the airport (not the tram), you will pass it in passing. It only briefly peeps out from between the trees.
It’s worth walking past to see the marvellous architecture. Because behind the beauty of the school is a famous name: William Henry Playfair. At the beginning of the 19th century, he designed many buildings and monuments that are now considered landmarks in Edinburgh. For example, the Dugald Stewart Monument and the City Observatory on Calton Hill, the Old College, the Surgeons’ Hall, the National Gallery of Scotland and many more.
Playfair implemented a style at Donaldson’s School that is now known as Jacobethan. This is a Renaissance revival that combines a mixture of Elizabethan and Jacobite elements. Jacobite refers to the Stewart monarchy.
In 1850, Queen Victoria personally inaugurated the building, which was then known as Donaldson’s Hospital Building. It is said that the monarch was so impressed by the building that she offered to swap the Palace of Holyrood House for it. A year later, the school moved in to provide education for the poor and especially the deaf. Initially there were only 30, but by 1880, 120 deaf people were attending.
in 1992, the school changed its name to Donaldson’s College to emphasise that deaf people of all ages were welcome here. However, it also became apparent that the old building no longer suited the school’s purpose. Too old, too expensive.
Donaldson’s School moved to Linlithgow, where it now accommodates 120 pupils. The old home in Edinburgh was sold to City & Country in 2015. They now housed luxury flats in it and built more behind it.
Naturally, the residents don’t want to be disturbed. That’s why the old Donaldson’s School can only be seen through the fence. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking a short detour if you’re in the area.
Knowledge: James Donaldson, the founder
James Donaldson was a newspaper publisher who lived until 1830. In his will, he stipulated that his fortune should be used “for the building and foundation of a hospital for boys and girls, to be called Donaldson’s Hospital …”. He and his wife had no children.
How to get there
From the west end of Princess Street, it is about a 20-minute walk along the street outwards. Alternatively, you can take the tram to Haymarket and then follow the road (not the tram!). Donaldson’s School is on the right hand side looking outwards.