Basic Site Details

Name: George Watson's College
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: B Listed
Grid ref:
Notes: CHECK Builder reference

Competition assessed by John Keppie.

Cost of winning scheme: £200,000.

Dunn's work comprised main school, lodge, gatepiers and rifle range

In the RIAS 1932 the architect is given as J B Dunn & Partners.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1George Watson's School  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1School  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1George Watson's College, Colinton RoadYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 51928  Design competition and construction
Item 2 of 5September 1929February 1932 Dunn's plans dated
Item 3 of 51930  Reference to physical training department - presumably part of the scheme for the new building
Item 4 of 51931 Journal referencePreparatory School
Item 5 of 522 January 1965 * AdditionDean of Guild Court grants approval for extension, financed by £250,000 development fund (shared with Fettes College)

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 12James Stewart Johnston  1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 2 of 12Thomas Aikman Swan  1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 3 of 12Alexander Shepherd Brodie A19281930As employee of James Bow Dunn
Item 4 of 12George Legat Martin A19281930As assistant to James Bow Dunn, who won competition to secure job
Item 5 of 12James Bow Dunn A19281930Won competition to secure job (inclduing new physical training department)
Item 6 of 12Auldjo Jamieson & Arnott B1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 7 of 12James Alexander Arnott B1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 8 of 12George Reid C1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 9 of 12Reid & Forbes C1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 10 of 12Charles E Tweedie & Son D1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 11 of 12Charles Edward Tweedie (junior) D1928 Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 12 of 12James Bow Dunn E1931 Preparatory school

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
 Building NameNotes
Item 1 of 5George Watson's College, library 
Item 2 of 5George Watson's School, head masters house 
Item 3 of 5George Watson's School, War Memorial 
Item 4 of 5George Watson's Technology CentreConstructed opposite Micheal Laird's Music Department. Has a vaulted steel roof, and a glazed clerestorey giving views over the Pentland Hills.
Item 5 of 5George Watson's College, Music School and Auditorium 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Braidwood, Niall C1988Dunn and Findlay and The Scotsman Building RIBA Dissertation 1988pp182-183
Item 2 of 3RSA1929   600 - Thomas Aikman Swan's design; 651 (Reid & Forbes design)
Item 3 of 3RSA1930   565 (Dunn)

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Architect and Building News1930Jul-Dec p221
Item 2 of 7Architect and Building News1931Jan-Jun p308
Item 3 of 7BuilderEarly 1928CXXXIV pp978, 985-990 (plans, illustrations)
Item 4 of 7Builder22 January 1965  p220
Item 5 of 7RIAS Quarterly1932WinterRoyal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p7
Item 6 of 7RIBA Journal20 September 1930 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp711 Obituary of Dunn
Item 7 of 7Scotsman1 June 1928  p8

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 5DMW ArchiveResearch notes for 'Scottish Thirties' by Charles McKean  
Item 2 of 5Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild 5 July 1929
Item 3 of 5Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register27193 
Item 4 of 5National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDunn and Findlay Collection EDD/775/1-313
Item 5 of 5RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Alexander Shepherd Brodie: L no3343 (box 9)