Scott Monument |
Following the death of Sir Walter Scott on 21st september 1832 there was a widespread feeling in Edinburgh that a monument should be erected to his memory.
The initial decision to proceed was taken at a public meeting on 5th October, and a competition was declared in order to select a design for the monument. The competition was won by George Miekle Kemp.
Kemp was a working joiner who had attained recognition as an accomplished draughtsman, especially through his drawings of Melrose Abbey and Glasgow Cathederal. In 1838 Kemp was awarded the contract to build the monument.
At the same time John Steell, later Sir John and H.M. Sculptor for Scotland, had been declared winner of a competition to select the sculptor of the statue of Sir Walter Scott to be included in the monument.
In the autumn of 1844 the last stone was placed in the pinnacle by Kemp's young son, Thomas. The monument including the statue was officially inaugurated on 15th August 1846.
The Scott Monument is 200 ft. 6in high and 55ft. square at the base; the highest gallery is reached by climbing a total of 287 steps. It is constructed of Binnie stone, taken from shale workings near Linlithgow; this stone contains natural oils which are said to aid its preservation.
Sir John Steell's statue of Sir Walter Scott is executed in Carrara marble and is more than double life-size.
The monument has 64 niches, in each of which, in accordance with the original design, a statuette has been placed. Several of these were contributed at the time of the original inauguration, and a movement instigated by James Ballantyne in 1870 brought the total to 32.
The remainder were provided as a result of a motion placed before the town Council by Bailie Thomas Hall in 1881. All the statuettes represent characters from the works of Sir Walter Scott.
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Opening Times
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(2012 times)
April through September: Monday to Sunday 10.00am - 7.00pm October through March: Monday to Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm Last admission 3.30pm. |
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Admission Charges
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(2012 prices)
Please contact by telephone or visit the website (links above)
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Directions
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| Show map of Scott Monument... |
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Scott Monument Postcode for SatNav: EH2 2EJ |
Contact
| Tel: | +44 (0)131 529 4068 |
| Email: | museumsandgalleries@edinburgh.gov.uk |
| Web: | Attraction's Own Web Site |
Nearby Attractions
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National Gallery of Scotland (<1 Mile)*
The Museum houses an outstanding collection of paintings, drawings and prints by the greatest artists from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism. -
Edinburgh City Art Centre (<1 Mile)*
The City Art Centre is home to Edinburgh's fine art collection. Mostly by Scottish artists, the works range in date from the 17th century to the present. -
The Writers' Museum (<1 Mile)*
The Writers' Museum is dedicated to the lives and work of scotland's great literary figures.
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Nearby Self Catering
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To ensure a relaxing vacation the apartment has been prepared and maintained to an excellent standard. These efforts have been awarded, year on year, with 4 stars by The Scottish Tourist Board. |
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One of the oldest residences in Edinburgh this fascinating Edinburgh Landmark, Trust House is just below Edinburgh Castle on one of the oldest streets in the city. |
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Location, Location, Location - excellent two bedroom self catering apartments by, beside and looking directly onto Edinburgh Castle in the historic Old Town area of Edinburgh city centre. |
| more self catering near Scott Monument ... |
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