Usher Hall

The Usher Hall is located on Lothian Road in Edinburgh and was opened by Andrew Usher's widow on 6 March 1914.
(Details of the opening programme in 'The Scotsman', 6 March 1914, p. 7. and a Memorial to Mr Usher on 7 March 1914, p.9) 

In 2014 the city celebrated the centenary of its opening with a concert on 6 March 2014.

In 1896 Edinburgh-born Mr Andrew Usher made gift of £100,000 to the City of Edinburgh Corporation towards building a new city hall.  Unfortunately he died in 1898 before work could begin. Architects were invited to tender for a hall to cost £65,000 and 133 sets of plans were received. The contract was given to Messrs Stockdale Harrison & Sons and Howard H.Thomson from Leicester.  The terms of Usher's will were: "My desire and intention is that the said hall should become and remain a centre and attraction to musical artistes and performers and to the citizens of Edinburgh, and others who desire to hear good music, instrumental and vocal, and that the opportunities afforded by said hall and premises may promote and extend the cultivation of and taste for music, not only in Edinburgh but throughout the country."  On 19 July 1911 King George V and Queen Mary laid two memorial stones which can be seen on each side of the Cambridge Street entrance.

The Usher Hall, Edinburgh