George Heriot's School, Edinburgh
Sitting proudly on Lauriston Place in the historic Old Town of Edinburgh, George Heriot鈥檚 School began life in 1628. Originally, it was George Heriot鈥檚 Hospital, a charitable foundation created by the fortune of one George Heriot, a royal goldsmith to King James VI. The school first opened its doors in 1659, and today it鈥檚 still thriving as an independent institution for primary and secondary education, with more than 1,600 students and a small army of staff under the wing of the George Heriot鈥檚 Trust.
The main building is a distinctive architectural gem that doesn鈥檛 just look historic鈥攊t is historic. A Renaissance-style sandstone palace, bristling with turrets and wrapped around a grand courtyard, its foundation stone still bears the date 1628, an enduring reminder of its deep roots. Every window is decorated with unique ornamentation, except for a curious pair of bare windows on the ground floor flanking the now obsolete central turret on the west side鈥攁n architectural mystery left unsolved. And presiding over it all, the statue of the school's founder, George Heriot, keeps watch from a niche in the courtyard wall.
When looked at for the first time, the castle-like turrets and sweeping courtyards of George Heriot's School inevitably resemble Hogwarts. Furthermore, this private school relies on the same system as the famous School of Witchcraft and Wizardry did, sorting its pupils into Houses, just like Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. J.K. Rowling鈥檚 children studied here, too, so it鈥檚 fair to assume that she may have drawn inspiration for her wizarding world from the school鈥檚 traditions.
Another reason for speculation about such an inspiration is the Elephant House Caf茅鈥攖he one where Rowling penned much of Harry Potter. From its windows, she could gaze across to George Heriot鈥檚 School鈥攁nd perhaps picture Harry, Hermione, and Ron heading off to class beneath those very turrets...
The main building is a distinctive architectural gem that doesn鈥檛 just look historic鈥攊t is historic. A Renaissance-style sandstone palace, bristling with turrets and wrapped around a grand courtyard, its foundation stone still bears the date 1628, an enduring reminder of its deep roots. Every window is decorated with unique ornamentation, except for a curious pair of bare windows on the ground floor flanking the now obsolete central turret on the west side鈥攁n architectural mystery left unsolved. And presiding over it all, the statue of the school's founder, George Heriot, keeps watch from a niche in the courtyard wall.
When looked at for the first time, the castle-like turrets and sweeping courtyards of George Heriot's School inevitably resemble Hogwarts. Furthermore, this private school relies on the same system as the famous School of Witchcraft and Wizardry did, sorting its pupils into Houses, just like Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. J.K. Rowling鈥檚 children studied here, too, so it鈥檚 fair to assume that she may have drawn inspiration for her wizarding world from the school鈥檚 traditions.
Another reason for speculation about such an inspiration is the Elephant House Caf茅鈥攖he one where Rowling penned much of Harry Potter. From its windows, she could gaze across to George Heriot鈥檚 School鈥攁nd perhaps picture Harry, Hermione, and Ron heading off to class beneath those very turrets...
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George Heriot's School on Map
Sight Name: George Heriot's School
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
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