Take a walk into West Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh and you might stumble across an outdoor theatre with subtle art deco features and a vintage feel.
This is the Ross Bandstand. It’s under threat of demolition in the coming years. Take a walk around it while you can and check out some of the vintage features before they disappear into fond memories.
I have memories here too. There was swing dancing during numerous Edinburgh Jazz Festival events, watching visitors enjoy Scottish country dancing in the summer, experiencing Shakespeare in a torrential downpour and I once yelled “I love you, Tony” to Tony Bennett during a quiet moment at a gig he did here in July 2000. I do love him, though.
Let’s hope that some of these historical features can be preserved, even if the building is no longer fit-for-purpose.
History of the Ross Bandstand
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Ross Bandstand began life as a Victorian cast-iron bandstand, built in 1877 to celebrate the opening of the gardens to the public. The site transformed into the Ross Theatre, a contemporary Art Deco stage and amphitheatre, unveiled on 10th May 1935. Despite its name change and upgrade, Edinburgh locals still refer to it as the Ross Bandstand. It’s named after local whisky distiller William Henry Ross, who paid for the 1935 upgrade after he lost his sight and wished to give something back to the community.
Ross Bandstand window feature
This Art Deco window feature repeats on both east and west sides of the Ross Bandstand. You meet this window when you arrive at what is now the public toilets in Princes Street Gardens West. The building was designed by Ebenezer James MacRae, who also designed Edinburgh’s Police Boxes of the 1930s.
Ross Bandstand turnstile
Keep an eye out for the vintage turnstile too. I’m sure it’ll end up in a museum, but for now it sits humbly by the gate entrance to the outdoor auditorium.
Photos: ©Artravelist
Find out more about the Quaich Project which has ambitious plans to upgrade the site:
