A brief history of the hall

In 1896 Edinburgh born Andrew Usher donated £100,000 to the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council of the City of Edinburgh, for the purpose of providing a City Hall.

Sadly, in 1898, before building work had even started, Andrew Usher died.

After his death architects were invited to send in plans for a hall to cost £65,000 and no fewer than 133 sets of plans were sent in for competition. The successful competitors were Messrs Stockdale Harrison & sons and Howard H. Thomson, F.R.I.B.A., Leicester.

On 19 July 1911, King George and Queen Mary laid two memorial stones which can be seen set one on each side of the Cambridge Street entrance.

On 6 March 1914, the Hall was opened by Andrew’s widow.