We are a group of Portobello residents and former St John’s pupils who want to save this beautiful and historic building from imminent demolition by the City of Edinburgh Council.   

We urgently need to raise £4,000 initially to go to court for an interim interdict so that the Council halts the demolition. Please contribute whatever you can and share this page with your friends, family and on social media. 

This old school is steeped in history and was the first state Catholic primary school in Edinburgh following the 1918 Education Act. It was designed by Reid and Forbes who designed other notable buildings such as the B-listed former Leith Academy.

We have applied for a Community Asset Transfer of the building so it can be run by the community for the community and transformed into a vibrant artistic and cultural hub housing the early part of the artist Richard Demarco’s archive, as well as providing artists’ studios and educational opportunities.  

Unfortunately, the Council will not entertain our bid because of the planned demolition of the building, even though it would not compromise their plans to create a new park on the site. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to re-purpose this wonderful building and make it the focal point of the new park.

Please support this urgent campaign to keep this building as a community asset and halt the demolition by contributing and sharing this page now!