Calton Hill, Photos, History Historic Hill: central-east Edinburgh, Scotland: Athens of the North - the Scottish Enlightenment

Calton Hill, Buildings + Monuments

David Hume Mausoleum Proposals being prepared by Simpson & Brown for David Hume's Mausoleum on behalf of The Hume Enlightenment Trust. Apr 2008 Introduction The scattered monuments on Calton Hill go a long way to earning Edinburgh the sobriquet 'Athens of the North'. I have never been keen on cities trying to impress by referring to another but in this case there are strong historical reasons why this came about. Description Calton Hill is largely an area of civic parkland but to the East are the Georgian Terraces of Calton, a desirable residential location including the grand Royal Terrace - facing East - and Calton Terrace - facing South. Many people visit Calton Hill for the view back over Edinburgh and out to the sea. However, Calton Hill is very important architecturally. Almost every building on Calton Hill dates from the Enlightenment and the ubiquitous Greek and principally Acropolis references symbolised erudition:- Duguld Stewart Monument is modelled on Tower of the Winds in Athens by Lysicrates. The primary example, dominating Calton Hill is the National Monument (to the Napoleonic Dead), which is based on Acropolis, Athens. Located on the southern edge of Calton Hill, the Royal High School's Greek Doric columns are based on the Temple of Theseus, overlooking Athens. Buldings The various buildings and monuments on Calton Hill or in the adjacent Calton Burial Grounds are as follows:- Dugald Stewart Monument National Monument Nelson's Monument The City Observatory The Old Observatory Royal High School St Andrew's House Burns Monument Calton Old Burial Ground: Hamilton's Obelisk Governor's House (former Edinburgh Gaol) Memorial to David Hume Calton Burial Ground If you return here to the centre along Waterloo Place (hugely expensive 'bridge' from 1815), visit the Calton Old Burial Ground on the left. Here there is Hamilton's Obelisk to Political Martyrs and Robert Adam's Memorial to David Hume, 1777, and Bridewell. To the East of the enclosure sits the Governor's House, Archibald Elliot (architect of nearby Waterloo Place), 1817, the only remaining part of the huge Calton Gaol that was replaced by St Andrew's House. Sir Rowand Anderson referred to this House as a toy castle on account of its fake battlements, but for many it adds to the romanticism of valley and hill. More Scottish Architects: Scottish Architecture Calton Gaol photo © Adrian Welch 270907 Edinburgh : back to index Scottish Castles in Edinburgh & Lothian Calton Hill viewed from south, Old Town: photo © Adrian Welch 2007 taken with lumix camera Calton Hill is 108m high (355 feet). It is not the highest of the Edinburgh’s famous ‘seven hills’. Calton Hill was volcanic similar to Arthur's Seat and Castle Rock. Calton Hill buildings & monuments:- Nelson Monument 1816 National Monument 1822, modelled on the Parthenon but also known as 'Edinburgh's disgrace' City Observatory housing Observatory House 1776 Old Observatory 1818 City Dome 1895 Monument to philosopher Dugald Stewart (1753 - 1828) designed by William Playfair Monument to mathematician John Playfair (1748 - 1819) designed by William Playfair Monument commemorating the success of the vigil for the return of the Scottish Parliament, 1998. Scottish Parliament Building Calton Hill context : Edinburgh New Town More info will be added soon; all Calton Hill photographs © Adrian Welch