Scott Monument Edinburgh Memorial Building

A Conservation Plan for the Scott Monument was prepared to remove old cement, and non-original stone repairs, along with replacement to severely weathered stone. The Binny Quarry in Linlithgow, West Lothian was reopened to supply the Grade A listed Scott Monument with ‘original stone’. The Binnie stone is taken from shale workings.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) made a key contribution to Scottish literature and is often regarded in the east of Scotland as Scotland’s most famous writer as opposed to Robert Burns, certainly there is a lot of pride in his work notably in Edinburgh and the Borders.

Memorial History

Following the death of Sir Walter Scott in 1832 there was a feeling in Edinburgh that a monument should be erected to Scott’s memory. An architectural competition was agreed to select a design for the monument.

The architecture competition was won by George Kemp, a joiner but also a draughtsman in 1838 Kemp. This city centre landmark was built between 1840 and 1844. The monument dominates key views across the Waverley Valley and much of Princes Street. There are 64 statuettes of characters included in the memorial, all from Sir Walter Scott’s books.

images © Adrian Welch

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 son, Thomas. The memorial building including the statue was officially inaugurated on 15 Aug 1846.

This famous Scottish landmark is 200 ft high and the top of the memorial is reached via 287 steps. Sir John Steell’s statue of Sir Walter Scott is executed in Carrara marble and is more than double life-size. It is located in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, withi Princes Street Gardens.

Scott Monument Admission Times & Costs

Scott Monument Opening Times – check with operators, but at time of writing:
1 Apr – 30 Sep: Mon to Sat 9am – 6pm
Sun 10am – 6pm
1 Oct – 31 Mar: Mon to Sat 9am – 3pm
Sun 10am – 3pm

Admission to the memorial is £2.50 at time of writing, please check with the operator

images © AW

Contact for this famous Scottish memorial building: +44 (0)131 529 4068

photo © Adrian Welch

National Monument, Calton Hill

Location : New Town

Edinburgh Walking Tours

Scott Monument restoration architect : LDN Architects

Buildings near to the Scott Monument

Significant New Town Architecture located close by – Selection:

Jenners, north west, across Princes Street

National Portrait Gallery, a few blocks north

Nelsons Monument, on Calton Hill, to the East

Edinburgh Properties

Major Edinburgh Buildings

Scottish Parliament

Royal Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

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