How much does a building reveal about its past? This impressive structure, George Watson’s College, has stood witness to centuries of change. It began not as a place of learning but as George Watson’s Hospital, a school for underprivileged boys established in 1741. George Watson, a successful accountant and merchant, bequeathed a sizable fortune to create this haven for education.
Though the original building is gone, absorbed into the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the 19th century, the legacy of George Watson’s vision lives on in this new, grand edifice. In 1932, Prince George, later the Duke of Kent, inaugurated this very building, marking a new chapter for the school.
George Watson’s College wasn’t always co-educational. It was the amalgamation of two institutions – George Watson’s College for boys and its sister school, George Watson’s Ladies College. This historic merger took place in 1974, and at the time, it earned the school a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest co-educational school in Scotland.
The school’s motto “Ex Corde Caritas” meaning “Love from the Heart” speaks volumes about the values instilled here. As you walk through these halls, imagine the generations of students who have graced this institution. Picture the echoes of their laughter and the quiet determination in their studies. George Watson’s College, a testament to enduring generosity and a commitment to education, continues to shape young minds and inspire futures.