Building record MAB23946 - ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

School built in 1861-3 to the design of James Matthews, with additions by Matthews and Mackenzie in 1894, and further additions by JAO Allan in 1905 (classrooms and library), 1913 (east and west wings) and 1926 (gymnasium).

School built in 1861-3 to the design of James Matthews, with additions by Matthews and Mackenzie in 1894, and further additions by JAO Allan in 1905 (classrooms and library), 1913 (east and west wings) and 1926 (gymnasium). There have been further alterations and additions in the 20th century, including following fire damage in 1986. Built of tooled coursed granite ashlar, in Scots Baronial style. The OS 1st edition shows the Grammar School with, to the Northeast a separate establishment, Chalmers's School (endowed), later Westfield School and now part the French School. The grammar school (though not the present buildings) is said to date back to 1262. The previous school (NJ90NW0226) was built in 1757 on Schoolhill near the entrance to Gordon's College; Lord Byron was amongst its pupils. By the middle of the 19th century a larger premises was required and the Skene Street site chosen and the Town Council held a competition to select a design. James Matthews prepared designs for the school in three styles, Italianate, classical and baronial, the latter being chosen. The original building was a tall two-storey E-plan structure, with set back L-plan wings added later (1913) although possibly intended from the start. In 1898 the existing Westfield School (to the Northeast of the grammar school) was remodelled by A Marshall Mackenzie to include a gymnasium, janitor's house, cookery department and classrooms, and he also built a new block (now the language block). The school was further extended during the 20th Century and in the 1920s both parts of Westfield School (formerly Chalmers' School) were incorporated. Within the court centre is a a single storey one bay building with pediment and bellcote which came from the Old Grammar School (Schoolhill). The school was severely damaged by fire on 2 July 1986; the interior was destroyed and some of the exterior badly damaged. Reconstruction and internal redesign included conversion of the main block to 4 floors and rebuilding of some the exterior to the original design. In front of the school is a bronze statue of Lord Byron, set on a square granite plinth inscribed 'BYRON', designed by Pittendreigh MacGillivray 1914, executed by Alexander J Leslie 1920. On the east side of the main school building is a commemorative plaque to the military surgeon James McGrigor (1771-1858) who attended the school. First and Second World War memorials are recorded within the school.

Period Notes
Listed 12/01/1967. Built 1861-3; additions 1894, 1905 (classrooms and library), 1913 (east and west wings), 1926 (gymnasium). Further alterations in 20th century including following fire damage in 1986.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 03/07/1986 p.8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Record last edited

Sep 12 2025 2:14PM