Mihrişah Sultan Sıbyan Mektebi

Mihrişah Sultan Sıbyan Mektebi is an L-shaped historical educational building constructed in 1795 by Mihrişah Valide Sultan as part of the Mihrişah Valide Sultan Külliyesi in Eyüpsultan and currently serves as a scout clubhouse.

^{Mihrişah Sultan Sıbyan Mektebi} (Eyüpsultan Belediyesi)

Mihrişah Sultan Sıbyan Mektebi was constructed simultaneously in 1795 (Hijri 1210) with the adjacent tomb, imaret and sebil. The building is located in the Eyüpsultan district of Istanbul on Bostan İskelesi Sokağı, to the east of Eyüp Sultan Camii. Positioned opposite Pertev Paşa Türbesi and Mihrişah Valide Sultan Türbesi the school is now situated within present-day cemetery areas.

At the time of construction the surrounding area consisted of vacant land. The cemetery area in front of the building began to develop approximately thirty years after the school’s completion. The garden gate of the school is located behind Ferhad Paşa Haziresi on Bostan İskelesi Sokağı and bears no inscription on its arched entrance.^【1】

The architectural design of the building was carried out by Mehmed Arif Ağa and Ahmed Nurullah Ağa. Mihrişah Sultan Sıbyan Mektebi has an L-shaped floor plan. The wall construction employs alternating courses of cut stone and brick.

The roof consists of a double-pitched structure and originally featured a wooden framework. The façade has five windows with iron grilles executed in classical style. The building does not have an original construction inscription.^【2】

In the past a small library collection was housed within the school building. This library unit was transferred to Eyüp Hüsrev Paşa Kütüphanesi before 1924 and later to Süleymaniye Kütüphanesi in 1965.^【3】

The school building suffered extensive damage due to a fire in the 1970s caused by the negligence of a family residing inside. The structure was restored comprehensively in 1995 as part of the Eyüp Sultan Camii and Surroundings Conservation Project. Mihrişah Sultan Sıbyan Mektebi is currently used as the Eyüp Sultan Gençlik İzci Grubu Lokali.^【4】