7 October 2009: The Scotsman Buildings

The first issue of The Scotsman newspaper, subtitled ‘The Edinburgh Political and Literary Journal’, was published on Saturday 25 January 1817.

Its founders, customs official Charles Maclaren and lawyer William Ritchie, saw the newspaper as an outlet for liberal ideals dedicated to ‘impartiality, firmness and independence’, and a direct challenge to what they described as the ‘unblushing subservience’ to the Edinburgh establishment found in other local papers.

In 1820, Maclaren became full-time co-editor.  He also achieved the unusual distinction of being the only Scotsman editor to fight a duel.  Offended by journalistic attacks by Dr James Browne, editor of the Caledonian Mercury, Maclaren met Browne at Ravelston, Edinburgh on 11 November 1829.  The two exchanged shots, missed, refused to shake hands, and parted without apology.

The original offices of The Scotsman were at 347 High Street, although the paper moved to 30 Cockburn Street in 1860, at the same time as it dropped its price to 1d per copy.  Construction of the famous buildings on North Bridge began at the end of the nineteenth century to a design by architects Dunn & Findlay. In 1904 the work was complete and the paper moved to their new, baroque-styled, 190-foot-high offices.

The Scotsman remained in these premises until 1999, when they relocated to the purpose-built Barclay House on Holyrood Road.  The former newspaper offices on North Bridge are now used as a hotel, restaurant and spa.