Assembly Rooms (Edinburgh)
Encyclopedia
The Assembly Rooms is a former assembly rooms
located in central Edinburgh
, the rooms now host a number of events including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Hogmanay
celebrations. There are four rooms that are used year-round and are available for private functions: Music Hall, Ballroom, Supper Room and Edinburgh Suite. The building is protected as a category A listed building as "an outstanding example of the late 18th century public building, continuing its original use".
, in the centre of the recently established New Town
, was donated by the town council. The Assembly Rooms was designed by John Henderson, a local architect, who died young shortly after the building was completed.
The building was extended several times during the 19th century. In 1818 a portico
was added by William Burn
. Burn and his partner David Bryce
designed the Music Hall in 1843. Finally, in 1907, new side wings were completed to designs by Robert Rowand Anderson
and Balfour Paul.
.
Assembly rooms
In Great Britain and Ireland, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, assembly rooms were gathering places for members of the higher social classes open to members of both sexes. At that time most entertaining was done at home and there were few public places of entertainment open to both sexes...
located in central Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the rooms now host a number of events including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Hogmanay
Hogmanay
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner...
celebrations. There are four rooms that are used year-round and are available for private functions: Music Hall, Ballroom, Supper Room and Edinburgh Suite. The building is protected as a category A listed building as "an outstanding example of the late 18th century public building, continuing its original use".
History
The Assembly Rooms opened on 11 January 1787 for the Caledonian Hunt Ball. The building was funded by public subscription, costing over £6,000. The prominent site at the centre of George StreetGeorge Street, Edinburgh
Situated to the north of Princes Street, George Street is a major street in the centre of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Laid out from 1767 as part of James Craig's plan for the New Town, George Street was named in honour of King George III.-Geography:...
, in the centre of the recently established New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
, was donated by the town council. The Assembly Rooms was designed by John Henderson, a local architect, who died young shortly after the building was completed.
The building was extended several times during the 19th century. In 1818 a portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
was added by William Burn
William Burn
William Burn was a Scottish architect, pioneer of the Scottish Baronial style.He was born in Edinburgh, the son of architect Robert Burn, and educated at the Royal High School. After training with the architect of the British Museum, Sir Robert Smirke, he returned to Edinburgh in 1812...
. Burn and his partner David Bryce
David Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
designed the Music Hall in 1843. Finally, in 1907, new side wings were completed to designs by Robert Rowand Anderson
Robert Rowand Anderson
Sir Robert Rowand Anderson RSA was a Scottish Victorian architect. Anderson trained in the office of George Gilbert Scott in London before setting up his own practice in Edinburgh in 1860. During the 1860s his main work was small churches in the 'First Pointed' style that is characteristic of...
and Balfour Paul.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Every year the Assembly Rooms are used as one of the major venues for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As well as the original four rooms, there are several other venues that host shows under the Assembly name during the Fringe, including Assembly Hall, a 790 seat theatre on The Mound that was formerly the home of the Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
.