Basic Site Details

Name: Music Hall and Assembly Rooms
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: The Assembly Rooms opened on 11 January 1787 for the Caledonian Hunt Ball

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 3RECREATIONAL  
Item 2 of 3Assembly rooms  
Item 3 of 3Music hall  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 154, George StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 71781 Plans drawn upRude sketch drawn up by Craig but did not formally enter competition.
Item 2 of 717841787Build/constructionDesigned by John Henderson
Item 3 of 71796 AdditionPlaster roses added for chandeliers in ballroom.
Item 4 of 71818 AdditionWings added
Item 5 of 71843  Additions designed by Burn and Bryce, again in 1857
Item 6 of 71883  Low vestibule inserted
Item 7 of 71906  Additions by Anderson

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 10James Craig H1781 Directors of Assembly Rooms considered purchasing Physicians' Hall but decided against this. Craig was a subscriber to the fund - in the hope that he might obtain the job? But he acted as one of the assessors along with Captain Andrew Frazer. Craig drew up a 'rude sketch' but did not formally enter competition.
Item 2 of 10John Henderson D17841787 
Item 3 of 10John Baxter E1796 Plaster roses added for chandeliers in ballroom.
Item 4 of 10David Bryce A1843 Additions- including addition of music hall (with Burn)
Item 5 of 10William Burn A1843 Addition of music hall - with Bryce
Item 6 of 10D & J Bryce B1883 Internal alterations - low vestibule inserted
Item 7 of 10John Bryce II (or John Bryce (junior)) B1883 Internal alterations - low vestibule inserted
Item 8 of 10(Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson C1906 Additions
Item 9 of 10Arthur Forman Balfour Paul C1906 Additions
Item 10 of 10Rowand Anderson & Paul C1906 Additions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 2 of 4Cruft, K and Fraser, A (ed)1995James Craig 1744-1795  pp116-117
Item 3 of 4Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp282
Item 4 of 4Groome, Francis H Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-85) Edinburgh, London & Glasgow: Thomas C Jack, Grange Publishing Worksvol II p499

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder7 December 1907XCIII  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Transactions1870  p125-8. List of works by Burn, compiled by T L Donaldson

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 7Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild 1843 and 29 April 1865
Item 2 of 7Edinburgh University LibraryAnderson Collection (Plans and drawings)  
Item 3 of 7Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register27567 
Item 4 of 7National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD 15/798Minutes of the committee for building the Assembly Rooms.
Item 5 of 7National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD 377/43-44/1Printed and stitched minutes
Item 6 of 7National Library of ScotlandManuscript CollectionAcc 4796, Box 6, Folder 2 
Item 7 of 7National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection Incomplete set of working drawings EDD 95/25