Elphinstone Hall is part of King's College, Aberdeen

King's College, Aberdeen

King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...

 at the University of Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...

 in Scotland which replaced the Common Hall. It is named after Bishop William Elphinstone

William Elphinstone

William Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman, Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of the University of Aberdeen.He was born in Glasgow, and educated at the University of Glasgow, taking the degree of M.A. in 1452. After practising for a short time as a lawyer in the church courts, he was ordained a...

, the founder of the University.

History

Although built in 1931 by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie

Alexander Marshall Mackenzie

Alexander Marshall Mackenzie was a Scottish architect responsible for prestigious projects including the Isle of Man Banking Company in Douglas, and Australia House and the Waldorf Hotel in London....

, it was designed to be in keeping with the rest of the campus which dates back from 1495. The coats of arms on the cloisters belong to some of the benefactors and local bodies.

Elphinstone hall was constructed using stones from Castle Newe in Strathdon which was built in 1831 and demolished in 1927.

Adjoining Elphinstone Hall are the Linklater Rooms which is home to the 'Linklater Collection', a collection of 20th century paintings which was kindly donated by Eric Linklater

Eric Linklater

Eric Robert Russell Linklater was a British writer, known for more than 20 novels, as well as short stories, travel writing and autobiography, and military history.-Life:...

's widow.

Purpose Today

It was initially used as an academic and exam venue but now it is also used for conferences, functions and wedding receptions among other events. It is a focal point for the annual Word festival, a highly successful literary festival drawing famous authors such as Louis de Bernières

Louis de Bernières

Louis de Bernières is a British novelist most famous for his fourth novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In 1993 de Bernières was selected as one of the "20 Best of Young British Novelists", part of a promotion in Granta magazine...

, Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin, OBE, DL , is a Scottish crime writer. His best known books are the Inspector Rebus novels. He has also written several pieces of literary criticism.-Background:He attended Beath High School, Cowdenbeath...

 and Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is an American novelist, television writer, producer and film director.-Career:Trigiani grew up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia and attended Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She was a writer for The Cosby Show and its spin-off series A Different World before beginning on...

.

It is the location of a number of student run ceilidhs throughout the year, including the International and Celtic Societies.

External links

• Elphinstone Hall page