Have you ever heard the whispers of old schoolgirls, flitting through the halls of Saint Leonard’s Hall? It’s a grand, baronial building, right in the heart of Edinburgh, with pepper-pot turrets and a tower that looks like a Highland Croft House. It’s not just any house; it’s the former site of St Trinnean’s School for Girls, a real-life inspiration for the cheeky cartoon school that made its way into Ronald Searle’s famous books.
Imagine those giggling, mischievous girls running through these halls back in the 1920s. Their echoing laughter would have bounced off the ceilings, designed in a similar style to those in the drawing room of Newbattle Abbey. St. Leonard’s Hall is a building steeped in history, from its days as a school to its time as a Red Cross hospital during the First World War. Its history is like a tapestry, blending together the lives of students, soldiers, and even, according to some whispers, the inspiration for a beloved, fictional school.
But the story doesn’t end there. After the war, St. Leonard’s Hall became a hall of residence for female students until the university built more modern accommodation. The old building became the administrative center of the Pollack Halls, and today, it houses offices and function rooms, a reminder of its rich, diverse past. So, as you stand here, try to imagine those schoolgirls, those soldiers, those students. Each one contributed to the story of this place, and added to the layers of history that make it so intriguing. The Hall may have changed functions over the years, but its captivating story has continued to evolve and inspire, and its majestic form continues to stand tall, a beacon of the past in the heart of Edinburgh.