Fettes

Today's the day ............................. for grand architecture

Where else but Edinburgh would you find an incredible building like this just down the road from the supermarket? It's the capital's version of Hogwarts Castle - known locally as Fettes College - an independent school for boarding and day pupils.

To perpetuate the memory of his only son William, who had predeceased him in 1815, Sir William Fettes (1750-1836), a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh and wealthy city merchant, bequeathed the then very large sum of £166,000 to be set aside for the education of poor children and orphans.

After his death the bequest was effected and invested and the accumulated sum was then used to acquire the land, to build the main building and found the school. It opened in 1870 as Fettes College with a total of 53 pupils.

With the present fees per term for a boarder in the Senior School in excess of £9,000 - I wonder how many poor children and orphans attend there now ................................?