Donaldson’s Playfair Building
Standing proud and majestic on Osbourne Terrace, just two minutes walk from Haymarket Hotel, is the imposing historical landmark Donaldson’s Playfair Building. Originally called Donaldson’s Hospital, the ‘A’ listed building was designed by William Playfair and funded with money from the estate of James Donaldson, printer, bookseller and publisher. Built between 1842-51 it was built as a hospital for the instruction of children in accordance to the will of James Donaldson.
This palatial building is built around a quadrangle with large corner towers which themselves are made up of four smaller towers. Queen Victoria opened the building and is rumoured to have said that its more impressive than many of her own palaces and offered to swap Holyrood Palace for Donaldson’s.
The school admitted its first pupils in 1851, when Donaldson’s opened its doors to 200 boys and 200 girls of poor, destitute or vulnerable backgrounds on a bursary basis. Then in 1856 Donaldson’s developed into a school predominately for children who are deaf, although hearing children were also accepted. These hearing former pupils did much to bridge the gap between hearing and deaf communities.
During the second world war Donaldson’s was used as Edinburgh’s 20th prisoner of war camp and the school housed both Italian and German prisoners.
In 1992 the Donaldson’s Hospital changed its name to Donaldson’s College. Although after more than 150 years in the Playfair building, Donaldson’s College decided it was no longer fit for purpose and the trust could no longer afford to maintain the building. Donaldson’s College is still in operation today but has since moved to Linlithgow. Donaldson’s Playfair Building however was sold in 2003 to developers Cala Homes for £22 million.
Bringing us now to modern day Donaldson’s Playfair Building. This grand monument now houses luxurious converted modern apartments with the addition of 84 residences built in a crescent to the rear, and single occupancy residences in the East and West gatehouses.
Hopefully this beautiful example of Edinburgh architectural history will continue to dominate the West End neighbourhood for centuries to come.
