SMM+S

Adam Brown

National Monument
Location: Calton Hill
OS Ref: NT 263 741
Architect: Charles Robert Cockerell

The story of the plans for the Napoleonic Wars memorial on top of Calton Hill is well known. It was supposed to be a copy of the Parthenon on Calton Hill to commemorate all of Scotland's war dead from 1793-1815. It ran out of funds in 1825 after only 12 columns were erected and was left as it was.

There were proposals after the Great War to use this as the City’s War Memorial. Instead the city plumped for the modest Stone of Remembrance outside the City Chambers. A shame since the plans showed something worthy of Edinburgh’s capital status. It wasn’t a complete Parthenon though, it used the columns as a backdrop for some magnificent sculptures.

The City had a competition for designs for the war memorial and the Calton Hill design was on show in the City Art Centre a few years ago.

Adam
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:57 am Post subject:

As a council maintained monument is it listed on their website. This is what it says

The National Monument

An imposing monument consisting of 12 massive columns of Craigleith stone with a substructure containing catacombs. It is based on the Parthenon at Athens.

The idea of a National Monument was first aired at a meeting of the Highland Society in 1816. It was not until the 27 August 1822 that the Duke of Hamilton laid the foundation stone.

Charles Robert Cockerell was appointed architect and William Henry Playfair was taken on as his assistant.

After much debate it was decided the monument would take the form of a National Memorial Church to commemorate Scottish servicemen who died in the Napoleonic wars. It would also serve as a National Mausoleum where illustrious Scotsmen would be laid to rest in the catacombs.

A target of £42,000 was set, and the project received the support of many eminent people including George IV, the Duke of Atholl and Sir Walter Scott. After 16 months, however, only £16,000 had been raised. Due to the lack of further funds the impetus was lost and the project abandoned
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project