Assembly Rooms

The Assembly Rooms was built between 1783 and 1787 to provide a place of entertainment for the wealthy residents of the New Town. Historically, assemblies were a symbol of civility for communities large and small, providing a focus and forum for community life. Over 200 years later, it still retains its function as a venue for society to gather

Significant architectural and event timeline.

1783 - 87 Assembly Rooms is designed and built by John and David Henderson at a cost of £6,300 from a public subscription.
1787 The Assembly Rooms first opened its doors for the Caledonian Hunt Ball on 11th January in an incomplete state. Despite their incompleteness at opening and despite the use of old carpets and second hand furniture, the Edinburgh Courant of Saturday 13th January 1787 felt able to report that
The Assembly Room is the largest in Britain except the Great Room in Bath and is said to exceed it in elegance and just proportion.
1796 Ballroom received ornate additions including ceiling roses, Corinthian pilasters, drapes, mirrors and crystal chandeliers by John Baxter.
1796 The first Public appearance of Comte D’Artois, the brother of the King of France, following his arrival in Scotland on the 6th January 1796, was at the Assembly Rooms.
1797 An advertisement dated 16th December indicates that redecoration was taking place until early January 1798. The decoration was to be
in a very elegant style and nearly finished...
1805 The Rooms were again redecorated, in honour of the Queen’s Assembly, these included new coverings for the sofas, benches and windows by Young and Trotter.
1815 The Edinburgh Music Festival is first held in the Ballroom.
1816 Sir Walter Scott supervised a banquet where an ovation was bestowed on the Black Watch.
1818 The grand entrance portico is added by architect William Burn.
1821 Repainting of the Rooms in preparation for the King’s visit.
1822 Assembly Rooms hosted a glittering royal event, the Peers Ball, during the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh (a painting by Turner of this event hangs in the Tate Britain).
1827 Sir Walter Scott revealed himself as the "Great Unknown" author of the Waverley Novels at the annual dinner of the Edinburgh Theatrical Fund Association.
1833 Caledonian Fancy Ball with mention of the large plate glass mirrors. Gaslights fitted.
1841 New entrance was implemented rooms at either side of the entrance were used as rented shops.
1841 A public banquet was held for Charles Dickens who did some readings from his latest novel.
1843 A Music Hall is added to the rear of the building, designed by architects William Burn and David Bryce. This room was opened to acclaim with a week of performances, including Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
1865 Ballroom extended into the portico by Bryce. Apse and shell-headed doorway added.
1879 William Gladstone made the first of many visits to the Assembly Room to speak publically.
1895 Mirrors erected across main stairs closing off windows and forming service passages. West Card Room became the ladies cloakroom and the East Card Room became the men’s cloakroom.
1896 Electric lighting introduced.
1907 Wings and corresponding East and West Drawing Rooms, Supper Room and other alterations were made, designed by Rowand Anderson and A.J. Balfour Paul.
1914 - 1918 During the First World War the military took the building over as the principal recruiting office for Edinburgh and the east of Scotland.
1922 Extensive alterations to the Music Hall including the removal of organ and alterations to the stage front and gallery (including removal of the columns).
1945 Edinburgh Corporation purchased the Assembly Rooms.
1947 Princess Elizabeth and her fiancè, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, RN, attended a ball at the Assembly Rooms in July which was held to welcome the Royal family to Scotland.
1947 First International Festival was held
1950 A.G. Forgie was responsible for various alterations including redecoration of Ballroom, restoration of West Drawing Room and entrance foyer; removal of shops on either side of the main entrance, and formation of new ladies cloakroom on first floor.
1997 Repair and decoration work for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.