High School Yards

Image: © kim traynor Taken: 19 May 2009

Built in 1777 to house the High School, this building was taken over by the Edinburgh surgeons in 1832 to create a surgical block with 228 beds. It ceased to function as a hospital in 1873 when the Royal Infirmary moved to a new site at Lauriston. The building is now used by the geographers and archaeologists of Edinburgh University. The first High School building on the site witnessed a notorious incident in Edinburgh's history. In 1595, pupils, having been denied a holiday, staged what today would be called a 'sit-in'. After efforts to dislodge them failed, the rector called on the help of the town magistrates. A possé arrived, led by Bailie [councillor] John McMorran, and tried to ram a door, while ignoring shouts from a window that someone inside was prepared to shoot. Presently, a scholar named William Sinclair, son of the Chancellor of Caithness, fired a pistol out of a window, shooting the bailie through the head and killing him instantly. Thanks to their influential parents, the boys involved were let off scot-free, while the court told the town council "to attend more diligently upon their school and scholars" and "keep them in greater awe and discipline" than hitherto. "The Provost and baillies and counsell heiring tell of the same, they ordeinit John Macmorrane baillie, to goe to the gramar schooll and take some order therwith. The said Johne, with certein officers, went to the schooll, and requestit the schollaris to opin the doreis: thai refusit. The said baillies and officers tooke ane geast [joist] and rane at the back doore with the geast. Ane schollar bad him desist from dinging up [breaking down] the dore, utherways, he vowit to God, he wald shute ane pair of bulletis throw hes heid. The said baillie thinking he durst [dared] not shute, he, with his assisters, ran still with the geast at the said dore. Ther came ane schollar callit William Sinclair, sone to William Sinclair chansler of Catnes, and with ane pistolet shott out at ane window, and shot the said baillie throw the heid, sua that he diet. Presentlie the haill tounesmen ran to the schooll, and tuik the said bairns and put thame in the tolbuith [prison]: bot the haill bairns wer letten frie without hurte done to thame for the same, within ane short time thairafter." -- from Robert Birrell's Diary, Dalyell (ed.), Fragments Of Scottish History, 1792 Image

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