St Cecilia's Hall: Scotland's first purpose-built concert hall

St Cecilia's Hall, on the corner of Niddry Street and the Cowgate in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a Category A listed building. Completed in 1763, it was the first purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. Designed by Scottish architect Robert Mylne, who also designed Blackfriars Bridge in London, the hall features a plain Neoclassical exterior and an elliptical concert room on the first floor.

After its completion, the Edinburgh Musical Society held an inaugural concert in honor of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, in December 1763. Although the location became undesirable in the late 18th century due to the construction of South Bridge, the building survived through various uses, including as a school and a ballroom. It was eventually purchased by the University of Edinburgh in 1959.

Today, the hall houses a musical instrument museum containing more than 500 items, including the Russell Collection and the collections of Rodger Mirrey and Anne Macaulay. The venue is used for classical chamber music concerts and serves as a venue for the Edinburgh International Festival during the summer. After a major renovation project funded in part by the Heritage Lottery Fund, it re-opened to the public in 2017.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons