TheNational Monument of Scotland, onCalton Hill inEdinburgh, is Scotland's national memorial to theScottish soldiers and sailors who died fighting in theNapoleonic Wars.[1][2] It was intended, according to the inscription, to be "A Memorial of the Past and Incentive to the Future Heroism of the Men of Scotland".[3]
The monument dominates the top of Calton Hill, just to the east ofPrinces Street. It was designed during 1823–6 byCharles Robert Cockerell andWilliam Henry Playfair and is modeled upon theParthenon inAthens. Construction started in 1826 and, due to the lack of funds, was left unfinished in 1829. This circumstance gave rise to various nicknames such as "Scotland's Folly", "Edinburgh's Disgrace",[4] "the Pride and Poverty of Scotland" and "Edinburgh's Folly".[5]
As early as 1816, theHighland Society of Scotland called for the construction of a national monument to commemorate the fallen in the Napoleonic Wars.[1] InitiallyThe Mound was considered as a site, but was rejected in favour of Calton Hill.[6]
| National Monument in Scotland Act 1822 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to incorporate the Contributors for the Erection of a National Monument in Scotland to commemorate the Naval and Military Victory obtained during the late War. |
| Citation | 3 Geo. 4. c. 100 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 30 July 1822 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
In January 1822, a proposal was put forward to 'erect a facsimile of theParthenon' at a cost of some £42,000. The appeal found support amongst many prominent Edinburgh residents such asSir Walter Scott,Henry, Lord Cockburn andFrancis, Lord Jeffrey.[7] The leading man behind the campaign to model the new monument specifically on theAthenian Parthenon wasThomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, who had controversially removed many of the temple's sculptures (now known as theElgin Marbles) a decade earlier and brought them to Britain.[8] In July 1822 theRoyal Association of Contributors to the National Monument of Scotland was incorporated by an act of Parliament, theNational Monument in Scotland Act 1822 (3 Geo. 4. c. 100). The foundation stone was laid, amid great pomp and ceremony, the following month.[9]
Sixteen months after the initial appeal, only £16,000 had been found with the possibility of a £10,000 grant fromParliament. In 1826, the building was finally commissioned and work began.[7] The builder contracted to execute the work was Messrs William Wallace & Son.[3]
Originally, the building was planned to have extensivecatacombs in the area supporting the main structure, to provide a burial place for significant figures,[7][10] intended as a "ScottishValhalla".[2] A minute of the Royal Association in 1826 stated that the building was:
to adopt the Temple of Minerva or Parthenon of Athens, as the model of the Monument, and to restore to the civilised world that celebrated and justly admired edifice, without any deviation whatever, excepting the adaptation of the sculpture to the events and achievements of the Scottish Heroes, whose prowess and glory it is destined to commemorate and perpetuate, and part of which monument or building must, in terms of the said Act, be appropriated as a church or place of Divine worship, to be maintained in all time coming by the said Association[3]
The foundation stone, which weighs 6 tons, was laid on 27 August 1822, during thevisit of George IV to Scotland.
TheDuke of Hamilton (the most senior non-royalScottish noble and theGrand Master of Scotland) led a procession ofmasonic lodges, royal commissioners and other dignitaries fromParliament Square to the top of Calton Hill. The procession was escorted by theScots Greys and the3rd Dragoons.
The deposition of theinscription plates in the stone was accompanied bycannon salutes fromEdinburgh Castle,Salisbury Crags,Leith Fort and the royal squadron onLeith Roads.[2]
Early proposals for completion work tended to focus on following the original plans; however, during the early 20th century several alternative plans were proposed:[1]
Subsequent attempts to 'complete' the National Monument have never borne fruit for reasons of either cost or lack of local enthusiasm. A proposal in 2004 met with a mixed reception.[11]
The monument was repaired in December 2008, repositioning one of the stone lintels that had moved out of alignment. The cost was £100,262.[12][13]
The National Monument was classified as a Category A Listed building in 1966. It is not a scheduled monument.[1]
The National Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, which looks like the fragment of a stupendous ruin, and which is an outstanding feature in the views of Auld Reekie, is popularly known as Scotland's folly or Edinburgh's disgrace.
55°57′17.0″N3°10′54.5″W / 55.954722°N 3.181806°W /55.954722; -3.181806
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