History of the Building Archives - New College Past, Present & Future

Palace of Mary of Guise

with 1830

The townhouse at 533 Castlehill was built for Mary of Guise in 1544, but fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1845 to clear the ground for New College.

A temporary home for the New College

with 1840

A building was purchased at 80 George Street to be used for teaching the Free Church Theological students.

First session of the New College

with 1840

The very first classes for the Free Church students were held at Dr Candlish' church in Lothian Road.

New theological college required?

with 1840

The first mention of the need for a new theological college to serve those planning to leave the established church can be traced back to 17th February 1843.

Architects compete

with 1840

The General Assembly of May 1844 decided to build a new college and shortly afterwards secured a site on the Mound for the sum of £10,000.

William Playfair called in

with 1840

William Henry Playfair's plans for a new building for the Free High Kirk congregation were approved by the committee and then submitted to the Free Church General Assembly.

Laying of the Foundation Stone

with 1840

Rev Thomas Chalmers laid the foundation stone for New College on 3rd June 1846.

Students call for more space

with 1870

A Minute of the New College Senatus shows students requesting a reading room and room for societies in 1870 but to no avail!

Helpers in the library

with 1890

Student helpers were a resource first used when Prof David Welsh was responsible for gathering a library for New College.

Settlement at the Pleasance

with 1890

New College Settlement was built at the Pleasance providing a residence, for a warden and several students to live alongside the people served by the existing mission.

New College in Exile

with 1890

Following the Union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church in 1900 there was a court case about the ownership of the premises.

Staff and students return to New College

with 1890

On 1st Jan 1907 the United Free Church was able to return following the outcome of a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Merger of New College and University Faculty of Divinity

with 1930

The Faculty of Divinity moved to New College and the space previously used by them in Old College was given to the Faculty of Law.

Library relocation

with 1930

The move of the High Kirk congregation to Morningside allowed for the library's expansion in a new premises

Students watch over New College during air raids

with 1940

Student fire watchers perched on the roof of the Assembly Hall to watch over the buildings during air raids.

Same building, new start

with 1960

In a shift away from the Church of Scotland, the buildings of New College and Mylnes Court were ceded to the University of Edinburgh in 1961.

Obscure opportunity

with 1960

New College briefly ran the Camera Obscura on Castlehill when the University acquired the site with a view to expanding the nearby student residences.

Library snapshots

with 1970

In 1970 Iain Hope captured the atmosphere of New College Library on film.

A modernist makeover

with 1970

The exterior of New College was unchanged but a substantial internal refurbishment saw the repurposing of examination rooms on the top floor as offices and adding a lift.

Farewell to the Common Hall

with 1990

The Common Hall which adjoined the Assembly Hall was converted into seminar rooms to accommodate the growing student numbers.

Graduate school space expands

with 1990

The refurbishment of the Semples Close Wing [1997] increased the desk space available for Graduate Students considerably.

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History of the Building

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