St Cecilia's Hall: Edinburgh's First Concert Hall, 1763

St Cecilia's Hall, on Niddry Street and the Cowgate in Edinburgh, Scotland, is an unassuming concert hall. A striking construction, it was completed in 1763 and has a captivating history spanning over two centuries. Initiated by the Edinburgh Musical Society, St Cecilia's Hall was the first concert hall in Edinburgh and the first in Scotland. Robert Mylne, who also designed Blackfriars Bridge in London, was the architect.

After its completion, the Edinburgh Musical Society held an inaugural concert in honor of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, in December 1763. Although it lost prominence to other musical venues in the city, St Cecilia's Hall was bought by the University of Edinburgh. Today, a part of the university's collection of musical instruments is housed here. Restored in 2017, the hall was reopened to the public, letting visitors dive into its rich history.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons