I hadn't been to Scotland Street School since I was in primary school, but returned today and it was just as good as I remember!
The school, opened in 1906 and designed by prolific Glaswegian architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is not only a marvellous piece of design to feast your eyes on, but is an interesting way to explore the Scottish school system of old.
Spread across three floors, the museum hosts old classrooms and cloakrooms through the ages, from Victorian classrooms (complete with Dunce caps) to the more recognizable classroom of the 1960s. They have preserved a ton of uniforms, blackboards and books, that although are now really dated used to serve kids well as learning materials.
On the remaining floors, there are spaces where the museum staff run workshops (usually for larger school parties and groups of tourists), and on the first floor there is an exhibition space. This was our primary reason for visiting today, as they are currently playing host to a French fashion exhibition. You can see some of the sketches by Poiret, who brought upper class haute couture to pre-WW1 French magazines, and learn about the birth of many iconic clothing trends. The original sketches are gorgeous, fabulously detailed and gorgeously intricate in their detail. It's there till October 2010 so well worth a look.
On the bottom floor they have a wonderful wee gift shop, selling mugs and prints by Rennie Mac along with some of the standard gift shop goodies (namely slices of fudge and tablet). They also have a bright tea room where you can have a sandwich, cuppa and a cake. The staff were very friendly and they have loads of flavored teas for people like me who are constantly gasping for a brew of any variety.
Overall, I loved it. It's a really well maintained museum that's as interactive as it is peaceful to wander around. For the tourists, there are some great little quirks, such as being allowed to sit on the school chairs, as well as wearing the school uniform and the dunce cap. Not only did I get to see my boyfriend in a pinafore today, but I also got to see him with a big D on his head. Good times. read more