Nelson Monument

The Nelson Monument rises on Calton Hill at the end of Princes Street in Edinburgh and commemorates the British vice admiral Horatio Nelson. Built between 1807 and 1816, it honors his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 as well as his death in the same engagement. It was funded by a public subscription. After the death of the original architect, Robert Burn, Thomas Bonnar completed the building, which consists of a pentagonal, fortress-like base and a tower whose shape recalls an upturned telescope. This symbol was closely associated with Nelson. Today the monument is a Category A listed building and was restored in 2009 as part of a comprehensive renovation project.

Visitors can climb 143 steps to a public viewing gallery 32 meters (105 feet) up, which offers sweeping views over the city. The base has architectural features modeled on the fortified prison buildings that stood on the south side of the hill in the early 19th century. Above the entrance you will find a plaque expressing the gratitude of the citizens of Edinburgh for Nelson's example, along with a stone carving of the Spanish ship San Josef, which Nelson's crew captured in 1797. Every October 21, Trafalgar Day, the white ensign of the Royal Navy and signal flags spelling out Nelson's famous message fly from the monument.

One special feature is the mechanized time ball on the tower roof, installed in 1853. It served as a time signal for ships in the port of Leith and the Firth of Forth. The ball is raised shortly before 1 p.m. and drops exactly on the hour, synchronized with the firing of the One O'Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle. After storm damage in 2007, the system was repaired and returned to service in 2009. Today the mechanism is operated manually, with the firing of the gun serving as the cue.