Conservationists battle to save school from the wrecker’s ball

Campaigners trying to bring a neglected former school building in Edinburgh’s Old Town back into public use have published a major study shedding new light on its little-known key role in the history of education.

It is hoped the research will boost a campaign to rescue the listed building on New Street from demolition and have it turned into a literary and publishing hub.

Its future has been thrown into doubt after the City of Edinburgh Council, which owns the building, confirmed it is in talks with a prospective owner which would see it demolished.

The former North Canongate Infant School, on New Street, where some of the poorest youngsters in the capital were taught, helped shape the crucial Children’s Act of 1908, according to the new research.

Its long-time headteacher, Andrew Young, who later became an MP, was a key witness to a House of Commons study which led to the ground-breaking legislation being introduced. The act granted powers to keep children out of workhouses, protected them from abuse and prevented them from working in dangerous trades.

A conservation study on the former school carried out by Adam Dudley Architects, for the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust, states it is “in danger of being demolished” despite being in “generally sound” condition and calls for action to be carried out as soon as possible to “ensure its long-term survival”.

Sean Bradley, chairman of the trust, said: “We are trying to press the council so that we can take forward our plans.

“It is clear from this study that its historical significance is much greater than was previously known”