The Royal College of Surgeons, Nicholson Street, Edinburgh
William Henry Playfair, 1832


Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh image © adrian welch

Designed by William Henry Playfair (1790-1857) the Royal College of Surgeons was opened in 1832. The college is designed in the Classical Style.

The College houses a library, the Anatomy Museum in the Playfair Hall, a Dental Museum and the Sir Jules Thorn Exhibition of the History of Surgery.


Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh - south facade (left) image © adrian welch

The Royal College of Surgeons is the oldest medical society in the English-speaking world, being founded in 1505. The Nicholson Street site was purchased because the Old Surgeon's Hall had become insufficient to meet the needs of the College.


Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh - portico image © adrian welch

Now part of the college is an adjacent building which once housed the Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory. Lister, the Father of Modern Surgery, attended the College and is remembered in the Lister Room.

The Edinburgh’s Royal College of Surgeons is one of three professional, training and examining bodies for surgeons in the UK.


Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh - entry image © adrian welch

Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh architect - William Playfair


Quincentenary Hall
New building over three floors, adjacent to historic Surgeons Hall
due for completion Autumn 2006


Royal College Surgeons Edinburgh - Quincentenary Hall photo © adrian welch

Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh - Quincentenary Hall




Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh: Extension Building
Benson + Forsyth Architects project:
Royal College of Surgeons


building images © Benson + Forsyth


Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh: image © Benson + Forsyth




RFACS - Royal College of Surgeons
June 2002 case study - Extension
'From the street outside Surgeons' Hall, Register House might be seen to the north. To an architectural historian, it was immediately recognisable by its proportions and detailing as having been designed by Robert Adam. Similarly, this proposal would in the future be recognised as a building by Benson and Forsyth. Central Edinburgh could accept more current examples having such character and quality'.

The Royal College of Surgeons site was originally a Riding School.

Edinburgh : back to index


Opposite the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons is Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh

Royal College of Surgeons: www.surgeonshallcomplex.com/quincentenaryhall.html