Wallace Hall (Thornhill)

Wallace Hall is a non-denominational, co-educational state comprehensive school located in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. The school operates across a single modern campus and provides continuous education from early years through to secondary level (ages 2–19), encompassing a nursery (Early Learning Centre), primary school (Wallace Hall Primary School), and secondary school (Wallace Hall Academy) under unified leadership.

Originally founded in 1723 through the bequest of Glasgow merchant John Wallace, the school began as a free grammar academy serving the parish of Closeburn. Over the centuries, Wallace Hall has evolved from a locally focused classical academy into one of the region’s longest-established and most respected educational institutions. It has occupied multiple sites throughout its history, including purpose-built facilities at Closeburn and, since 1978, a consolidated campus in Thornhill. The current building, opened in 2010, houses all three educational stages and serves a broad catchment area including Thornhill and the surrounding rural communities.

The school has produced notable alumni in fields ranging from academia and the arts to sport and public service, and remains a central institution in the educational and cultural life of Dumfriesshire.

As of April 2025, the school operates with a roll of 576 pupils (secondary), and 150 pupils (nursery and primary).

History

18th Century

Wallace Hall was established in the early 18th century through the bequest of John Wallace, a native of Closeburn and a successful merchant based in Glasgow. In his will, Wallace allocated £1,400 for the creation of a free school for the children of Closeburn parish, which at the time included the united parish of Dalgarnock. The endowment included five acres of land in Closeburn for the school site, as well as farmland whose rental income would be used to pay the schoolmaster's salary. The deed of mortification specified that the school was to provide instruction in "English, Latin, Greek, writing, and arithmetic" at no cost to parish children, under the supervision of the local Presbytery. Wallace also named trustees to oversee the school, including relatives bearing the Wallace name, the Minister of Closeburn, and the Town Clerk of Glasgow. Preference for the position of schoolmaster was to be given to any suitably qualified individual named Wallace.

By 1724, construction of the school building had commenced on the Closeburn estate, with the cooperation of Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick. The first rector, Mr. Wauch, was appointed in 1723 and served until his death in 1744. The early school comprised a modest stone structure, completed by the late 1720s, along with an adjoining house for the master. A commemorative stone tablet, dated 1728, records Wallace’s gift of "1400 Pounds Ster. money… for this and another Free School within this Parish," the latter referring to a smaller school established at Gubhill under the same endowment.

Following Mr. Wauch’s tenure, the school was briefly led by two successive rectors: Patrick Wallace (1745–1748) and Archibald Wallace (1748–1749). In 1750, Alexander Mundell, a noted teacher from Edinburgh, was appointed rector. During his time at the school, Wallace Hall's reputation for academic excellence grew significantly. Mundell introduced a boarding programme that accommodated pupils from outside the local area, offering an advanced curriculum described as a “higher class” education in addition to the standard subjects.

In 1790, Dr. Robert Mundell succeeded his father Alexander as rector. In 1795, he funded the construction of a new three-storey building adjacent to the original schoolhouse. This building, which cost £1,700, served both as a residence for the rector and as additional teaching space. An inscription reading ''“Robertus Mundell, LL.D., Hujusce Academiae Praefectus”'' acknowledged Mundell’s role as headmaster. The original 1720s school and the 1795 house together form an expanded campus known thereafter as ''Wallace Hall Academy''.

19th Century

In the early 19th century, Wallace Hall Academy gained recognition as a prominent educational institution. A parish survey conducted in 1817 described it as "one of the most celebrated academies" in Scotland. The curriculum included English, mathematics, and classical languages, attracting pupils from across the Nithsdale region, fulfilling Wallace's vision of comprehensive education.

In 1841, Dr. Crauford Tait Ramage was appointed rector. The following year, significant renovations were undertaken under the direction of architect Walter Newall, who updated the 18th-century buildings with architectural features such as mullioned windows and a stair tower. Dr. Ramage personally contributed funds for improvements to classrooms, as well as to the school's water supply and drainage systems.

Wallace Hall Academy maintained a balance between classical and practical education throughout the century. The curriculum included subjects such as agriculture—Rector Mundell introduced American timothy grass to the local area to enhance hay production, an innovation shared with the farming community. By the 1880s, the school also prepared students, including girls, for the Lady Literate in Arts diploma from St. Andrews University and for civil service examinations. A five-year academic programme allowed some pupils to enter directly into the second year of university study, bypassing preliminary exams.

Following the Education (Scotland) Act 1872, Wallace Hall Academy came under review by the Endowed Schools Commission in 1875. The commission praised Wallace Hall’s headmaster (Dr. Ramage) as ''“a man of high character and great accomplishments”''. The Commission noted, however, that ''“altered circumstances”'' required reform: elementary schooling was now handled by public schools, and Wallace Hall Academy's endowment income had grown to roughly £600/year, yielding a surplus beyond local needs. It recommended refocusing Wallace Hall on secondary education for a wider area, introducing nominal fees to encourage commitment, and using funds for scholarships and boarding accommodations to extend the school’s reach. These suggestions were implemented under the Endowed Institutions (Scotland) Act 1878, following which Wallace Hall Academy was designated a “higher class” school and placed under a new governance structure involving representatives from the local Presbytery, the School Board, the University of Glasgow, and others. At this time, the school served eleven parishes. Free education continued to be offered to children from the local area, while fees and bursaries supported other pupils.

20th Century

In 1911, a new building was constructed in Closeburn, designed by architect James Barbour in the Jacobean Revival style. The new premises included science laboratories, spacious classrooms, and a bell tower. The original 18th-century buildings were repurposed, initially as a boarding hostel and later as a special residential school known as Closeburn House. The building was subsequently designated a Category A listed structure. A bicentenary celebration was held in 1923 to mark the school's founding. After 1918, with the introduction of the Education (Scotland) Act 1918, Wallace Hall Academy became part of the Dumfriesshire education authority but retained its historical identity and endowment-funded bursaries.

Both World Wars had a significant impact on school life, with memorials later erected to commemorate former pupils who served. The mid-20th century saw an expansion of the curriculum and the normalisation of co-educational teaching. School governance also evolved: with the introduction of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929, Wallace Hall Academy functioned as a state-aided senior secondary school. The John Wallace Trust's role shifted largely to awarding bursaries and university scholarships to outstanding local pupils.

Later, a primary school named "''Wallace Hall Primary School"'' was later established on the site. This development resulted in the operation of two distinct schools under a single Headmaster, and the name ''Wallace Hall'' was reinstated as the official title for the wider institution.

Between 1972 and 1973, coinciding with its 250 year anniversary, Wallace Hall merged with Morton Academy. A new campus was constructed in Thornhill, and the consolidated school opened there in 1978, providing a modern facility for secondary education in the area. The old Morton Academy building in Thornhill was subsequently repurposed as Wallace Hall Primary School. The former Closeburn site became Closeburn Primary School, maintaining its educational function, and was later designated a Category B listed building.

21st Century

In 2005, Wallace Hall was selected to participate in Scotland’s Schools of Ambition programme, which promoted curricular innovation and whole-school improvement. During this period, the academy restructured its senior phase courses (S4–S6), expanded subject offerings, and introduced a departmental leadership system led by “Learning Leaders.” These reforms, aligned with the Curriculum for Excellence, were complemented by investment in ICT, including the development of a modern Library Resource Centre and classroom technology upgrades.

In 2008, Barry Graham was appointed Head Teacher. Under his leadership, the school entered a period of transition and renewal, culminating in the construction of a new all-through campus in Thornhill. This facility opened in January 2010, integrating Wallace Hall’s nursery, primary, and secondary departments into a single building. The campus included purpose-built science labs, workshops, sports facilities, and shared learning spaces, while outdoor areas supported environmental education, including a horticultural zone and a school orchard.

In March 2020, Wallace Hall closed temporarily in line with the Scottish Government’s national lockdown and the announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that all schools and nurseries would close to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The school reopened in August 2020 under strict mitigation measures, including a one-way corridor system, staggered timetables, social distancing, and face coverings, in accordance with local risk assessments and national guidance.

Following a further easing of restrictions, the school reopened again in March 2021 with similar safety protocols in place. By spring 2022, all COVID-19 mitigations had been lifted and normal operations resumed. In May 2022, Wallace Hall hosted its first full diet of SQA examinations since 2019.

Throughout the first half of 2023, the school held celebrations in order to mark its 300 year old milestone. In the lead up to the celebrations, a competition was held by the Wallace Hall Community Group for current pupils to design a commemorative 300 year logo for the occasion, after voting, it was won by Darach Smyth, with a 62% vote share. When the celebrations did take place, they included (but where not limited to): a handbook being produced covering the extensive history of Wallace Hall, a film being produced documenting experiences from pupils past and present, with a look around the former Wallace Hall, now Closeburn Primary School, and 3 days of consecutive celebratrions being held at Wallace Hall, Closeburn Primary School, and Closeburn House. In addition, on the 13th of June 2023, Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament congratulating Barry Graham and Wallace Hall for reaching the 300 years milestone.

Campus

The current Wallace Hall campus, opened in January 2010, is a purpose-built educational facility located in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway. It accommodates the school’s Early Learning Centre, primary school, and secondary school within a single complex, providing a continuous educational pathway for pupils aged 2 to 18. The campus includes dedicated areas for each educational stage and shared facilities such as science laboratories, technical workshops, music and art rooms, and a centrally located Library Resource Centre.

The school incorporates environmental and rural education into its curriculum, supported by on-site horticultural spaces, polytunnels, and an orchard. These resources are used in programmes such as the WHApples community orchard project, which involves pupils in sustainability and outdoor learning.

Sporting facilities at the campus include indoor sports halls, outdoor pitches, and an all-weather playing surface, enabling a broad range of physical education and extracurricular activities. The Library Resource Centre functions as a central hub for academic support, offering access to learning materials and ICT resources.

Old School Thornhill Project

In July 2017, a campaign was launched to buy and transform the building that, built in 1909, and Category C listed, originally housed Morton Academy, and then later Wallace Hall Primary, and which up-until this point had sat derelict and disused opposite to the modern Wallace Hall building. This campaign gathered steady traction over the coming months, amounting in money being awarded for the purpose of renovation and purchase, from the Scottish Land Fund, as well as the Architectural Heritage Fund and Thornhill Community Council. In June 2019, a charity is formed under the name of Old School Thornhill (OST), which allows for more funding to be collected from the Holywood Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise. In total, OST claims to have raised more than £2.5 million towards renovation works, of which lasted from 2022 until 2024. The building was officially opened for public usage on the 20th of April 2024.

Notable former pupils

* Dr Aglionby Ross Carson, educator
* Andrew Coltart, European Tour golfer
* Prof John Hunter joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Principal of two colleges at St Andrews University
* Leo Kearse, Comedian
* Emily Smith, Scottish folk music singer
* Nicky Spence, opera singer
* Andrew Wallace Williamson, KCVO and Chaplain-in-Ordinary to the King in Scotland; also Dean of the Order of the Thistle and the Chapel Royal in Scotland, 1910–25; Moderator of the Church of Scotland 1913–1914
* John Hunter, classicist and horticulturalist

References

External links

Wallace Hall website

Wallace Hall Primary listing on Dumfries and Galloway Council website

Wallace Hall Academy listing on Dumfries and Galloway Council website

News Article containing historical images of Wallace Hall (1911) and Endowment

Old School Thornhill (OST) website

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Dumfries and Galloway
Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway
Secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway
1723 establishments in Scotland
Educational institutions established in 1723