Myreside Pavilion Capital Project

Myreside Pavilion
Capital Project
Fundraising Target £600,000

Myreside Pavilion
a special place in Watson’s History
In 1878, school sport moved to ‘Old Myreside’, an area stretching
from Colinton Road to the boundary of Merchiston Gardens.
An ornate brick pavilion was built and the boys raised
£22 10s (£2,600 today) towards fixtures and fittings.
This was a period of significant growth in school and
former pupil sport culminating in the formation of
the Watson’s College Athletic Club. Ten years later,
and after intense negotiations with the Merchant
Company, a new pavilion – Myreside Pavilion – costing
£4,325 was officially opened on 1 May 1897.
In the mid-1930s, the pavilion was significantly
extended with the addition of two of the first squash
courts built in Scotland, a development that was
funded by members. Then, in the 1970s, a boom
in the number of people playing squash led to two
additional courts opening in 1980. The Club has
been at the forefront of Scottish squash since its
inauguration and the pavilion has now been home to
the Watsonian Squash Rackets Club for over 80 years.
Well over a century since the pavilion’s foundations
were laid down and over five decades since the
most recent upgrades to the original building were
completed, thanks to a fundraising appeal led by
former Principal Sir Roger Young, a fire on
5 February 2020 has provided every Watsonian with
the opportunity to help write the next chapter in the
history of Myreside Pavilion.

Reimagining Myreside
our vision for the pavilion’s future
The horror of the fire that engulfed Myreside was felt by
Watsonians around the world.
Those who found themselves nearby as the fire service
worked to bring the blaze under control watched in
disbelief as flames burst through the roof. Thankfully,
no-one was hurt and the fire – though devastating –
has provided an unexpected opportunity for renewal.
Insurance will cover like-for-like reinstatement but,
with your help, we can be much more ambitious for
both the fabric and the purpose of the building.
Former pupils, current pupils and their parents, staff,
the Watsonian Club and Watsonian Club sections have
all contributed to the development of a new vision for
the future of this much loved landmark.
From the insights and feedback
that we gathered, a key theme
emerged: A vision that would
bring Myreside Pavilion to life
every day, making it a lively,
bright, and inviting destination.
As a result of the passion and commitment shown
in the months since the fire, we are embarking on a
£600,000 capital project. We will bring the pavilion back
to life as a hub for the school and local community
during the day, whilst enhancing its historic role as a
home for sport and a social hub for Watsonians and
others in the evenings and at weekends.
With your help, reaching our funding target will
enable much of the pavilion’s past to be recreated
as part of the vision for its future. Mrs Henderson’s
legendary teas will once again be served, with a 21st
century twist. A new focal point will be created: a
place for Watsonians to meet friends, or drop in to
see the Development Office team; a place for parents,
senior pupils and staff to relax and enjoy each other’s
company and a place where we can welcome our
neighbours, community partners and other friends.
And it will once again be a place for Watsonians to
regale each other with tales of matches won, and
sometimes matches lost.
And more than that, for the first time we will be able
to bring together and display the historic archives and
collections that record and celebrate the rich history
of the Watsonian Club and its sections. Artefacts,
photographs and documents will be displayed
throughout the building, a Library and Reading Room
will allow Watsonians, researchers and members of the
public to access these items and all Watsonian sections
and branches will be able to safely store their archival
materials in the new library and storage spaces.

The Vision
creating a visitor centre
To realise our shared vision and complete the pavilion’s
most ambitious programme of improvements since it
was opened in 1897, there are four key projects that we
would like you to consider supporting:
• Creation of a hub for Watsonian Club members,
staff, parents and senior pupils and other
visitors to meet friends, relax and participate
in volunteering and other activities. Funds will
be used to upgrade and improve the event and
meeting spaces; for the installation of a coffee
shop; and to enhance the outside and entrance
spaces, including a new ground-floor, decked
viewing area.
• Creation of exhibition, gallery and library spaces
to house and display the Watsonian Club and
Watsonian sections’ historic archives and
collections.
• Accessibility projects that provide access for all
at ground-floor levels including the installation
of ramps to all main access points to the building
and a lift to the upper-floor.
• Significantly upgrade the squash courts, with a
new entrance and reconfigured layout. Upgrade
the electrics, building access systems and instal
security cameras.
We will be able to realise
these ambitions only if you
can help us to raise £600,000
in philanthropic support.
Please pledge your support
and ensure that Myreside
Pavilion can phoenix from
the ashes of the fateful fire,
as a new Watsonian Centre.

The Projects
how you can help
Creating the Watsonian Centre
Myreside Pavilion sits on the periphery of the
school’s estate and is primarily used by the school
and Watsonian clubs during sporting events and as
an events space outwith school hours, and at the
weekends. The building has been sitting empty for
most of the day; we now have an opportunity to
reimagine new ways to use the spaces.
Our shared vision for the pavilion is that it becomes a
hub for every member of our community. A space for
former staff and former pupils to drop in to visit the
Development Office and participate in volunteering
projects; a space for parents to relax around pupil
pick-up times; a space for current staff to meet visitors
and each other; a space for senior pupils to gather,
or study; and a space that welcomes our community
partners and neighbours.
Realising the Vision
The aesthetics of the building will be improved, letting
our community and neighbours know that the Visitor
Centre welcomes everyone. There will be general
building improvements to the exterior of the whole
building, including reinstating the rosemary tiles and
repair and maintenance to all external woodwork
and walls. The downstairs function room will be
enhanced, with bifold doors leading directly onto an
outside decked area. The bar and serving areas will
be reconfigured to allow them to switch between
daytime café service and evening bar service, as well
as offering flexible spaces for events, meetings and
other activities.
The Development Office will be relocated to Myreside,
giving the building a tangible, daily use for the school,
ensuring that the building is a lively and thriving hub
that is always ready to welcome visitors.
Exhibition, Library
and Archive Storage Spaces
The Watsonian Club and its sections and branches
around the world have a rich history and, over
time, Watsonians and others have gifted artefacts,
manuscripts, books and other items of interest to be
displayed at the pavilion and across the school. We
also know that a wealth of history is stored at the
homes of individual office bearers, and in an eclectic
mix of spaces across the campus.
Realising the Vision
Housing these important collections and archives
at Myreside Pavilion will allow the school to make
them available to researchers, Watsonians and their
families, and the general public; as well as having
much of them on permanent display to provide a
unique backdrop for visitors to enjoy.
A reconfiguration of the viewing gallery at the rear of the
squash courts will allow the space to become bespoke
storage for the archives and the existing Hastings
Room will be redeveloped into a library and reading
room, housing books, the photographic collections,
manuscripts and other papers, as well as providing a
space where researchers and others interested in the
history of the Watsonian clubs will be able to meet with
the school’s Historian and Archive Officer.
Redevelopment of the upstairs bar and Hastings
Rooms will include removing the alcove seating
areas and replacing these with full-length windows
and patio doors leading to the outside balcony area.
Reconfiguring the bar and opening up the vaulted
ceiling will enhance the space and provide a fitting
backdrop for bespoke shelving, exhibition and
display cabinets.

Access for All
As part of our programme of improvements, our plans
include new ramp access points at key entrances
around the pavilion, as well as installing a lift to
provide access for wheelchair users and other visitors
with reduced mobility to the upstairs bar and event
space; the reading room and board room; as well as
the outside viewing balcony.
Realising the Vision
With your support we are committed to realising our
vision to make the building fully accessible, allowing
all sports competitors, spectators and other visitors
full access – for the first time – to the upper floor of
Myreside Pavilion.
Squash Court Redevelopment
The Squash Club proposal is to redevelop the
facilities by upgrading all four courts, which will
include turning the two original courts through 180
degrees. This reorientation will allow access to all
four courts from one central area. In addition, a small
extension to the western elevation will provide an
expanded lobby and recreational area.
Realising the Vision
These significant upgrades will not only allow the
school to coordinate training sessions for more
children and allow the Club to recruit more members,
the courts will also provide national standard facilities
and allow the school and Club to increase the range
of activities provided to pupils, members, partnership
schools and community groups.
To futureproof the building and mitigate against
faults, there will be a complete rewiring of the
building and replacement of the electrical boxes,
as well as the installation of new IT infrastructure,
which will include replacing the door entry systems
and the addition of security cameras.
How you can help
Please pledge your support and help us reach
our goal to raise £600,000. Time is against us as
we aim to deliver the project within the next six
months to allow Myreside Pavilion to be fully
operational for the start of the 2021 school and
Sporting Calendar.
Development Office, George Watson’s College,
Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5EG
T: 0131 446 6000 E: development@gwc.org.uk
The George Watson’s Family Foundation Registered Charity SC004818
Administered by the Edinburgh Merchant Company Education Board,
a charity registered in Scotland SC009747