Our history and heritage
The University is one of the oldest Higher Education institutions in the United Kingdom and the second oldest in Edinburgh, and was the world's first Mechanics' Institute. Founded in 1821 to provide technical education for the working classes, the School of Arts grew from a room in Edinburgh's Old Town to Scotland's most international University.
Key information
Heritage and Information Governance
- +44 (0) 131 451 3218
- heritage@hw.ac.uk
Helen Taylor
- Archivist
- h.e.taylor@hw.ac.uk