With Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) the Scottish novel had a new beginning which extinguished all that went before it. In 1814 his novel Waverley, based on the Jacobite Rising was an instant success and over the next dozen or so years he wrote 23 historical novels.
At the age of 18 months his right leg was rendered permanently lame by polio, and as an infant he was sent to his grandfather's farm in the Borders.
He studied law at Edinburgh University from 1783, with interruptions because of his illness. He was indentured in his father's legal practice on 31 March 1786, but did not qualify as an advocate until 11 July 1792. Scott was to continue in his legal career until retiring in 1830.
Sir Walter Scott published all his novels anonymously. Initially this may have been a precaution against the possible failure of "Waverley" but even after its enormous success, Scott seems to have enjoyed prolonging the mystery (he was nicknamed "The Great Unknown" and "The Wizard Of The North"). His identity as the author of "Waverley" and its successors soon became an open secret, fairly widely known, but it was not until February 1827 that he officially "revealed" himself, at a public dinner in Edinburgh.
Sir Walter Scott's novels generally depicted a deep understanding of the people
and period they attempted to portray. In his Scottish novels he treats the history with great care and affection.
Following the death of Sir Walter Scott on 21st september 1832 there was a widespread feeling in Edinburgh that a monument should be erected to his memory, and the initial decision to proceed was taken at a public meeting on 5th October. A competition was declared in order to select a design for the monument. The competition was won by George Miekle Kemp, a working joiner and self-taught architect who had attained recognition as an accomplished draughtsman, especially through his drawings of Melrose Abbey and Glasgow Cathederal. Although initially Kemp came third he embellished his design to win (though other professional architects of the time were not amused). The architect had met Scott in 1813 when the author, who was also the Sheriff of Selkirkshire, gave him a lift in his carriage. Kemp entered the competition as "John Morvo" who was a medieval master mason at Melrose Abbey. In 1838 Kemp was awarded the contract to build the monument but he never saw his ideas come to fruition - he tripped in a fog into the Union Canal in 1844 and drowned.
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. The statue of Sir Walter Scott is executed in Carrara marble and
is more than double life-size. The 30-ton block of marble actually fell into the harbour at Leghorn in Italy on its way to Edinburgh, but that does not seem to have had any adverse effect
The Foundation stone was laid on the 15th August 1840 (the anniversary of Scott's birthday) and in the autumn of 1844 the last stone was placed in the pinnacle by Kemp's young son, Thomas. The monument including the statue was officially inaugurated on 15th August 1846.
The Scott Monument is 200 ft. 6in high and 55ft. square at the base; the highest gallery is reached by climbing a total of 287 steps. It is constructed of Binnie stone, taken from shale workings near Linlithgow; this stone contains natural oils which are said to aid its preservation although as time has proved, was softer and more liable to corrosion from the atmosphere in "Auld Reekie" as Edinburgh was once called. The stonework has blackened
over the years and currently has a "piebald" effect from recent repairs to the stonework.
The monument has 64 niches, in each of which, in accordance with the original design, a statuette has been placed. Several of these were contributed at the time of the original inauguration, and a movement instigated by James Ballantyne in 1870 brought the total to 32. The remainder were provided as a result of a motion placed before the town Council by Bailie Thomas Hall in 1881. All the statuettes represent characters from the works of Sir Walter Scott.
Opening hours:
1 April to 30 September:-
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 6pm Sunday: 10am to 6pm
1 October to 31 March Monday to Saturday: 9am to 3pm Sunday: 10am to 3pm
Tickets cost (2008 prices) Admission £3.00.
Telephone 0131 529 4068 for further information.
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At the age of 18 months his right leg was rendered permanently lame by polio, and as an infant he was sent to his grandfather's farm in the Borders.
He studied law at Edinburgh University from 1783, with interruptions because of his illness. He was indentured in his father's legal practice on 31 March 1786, but did not qualify as an advocate until 11 July 1792. Scott was to continue in his legal career until retiring in 1830.
Sir Walter Scott published all his novels anonymously. Initially this may have been a precaution against the possible failure of "Waverley" but even after its enormous success, Scott seems to have enjoyed prolonging the mystery (he was nicknamed "The Great Unknown" and "The Wizard Of The North"). His identity as the author of "Waverley" and its successors soon became an open secret, fairly widely known, but it was not until February 1827 that he officially "revealed" himself, at a public dinner in Edinburgh.
Sir Walter Scott's novels generally depicted a deep understanding of the people
and period they attempted to portray. In his Scottish novels he treats the history with great care and affection.Following the death of Sir Walter Scott on 21st september 1832 there was a widespread feeling in Edinburgh that a monument should be erected to his memory, and the initial decision to proceed was taken at a public meeting on 5th October. A competition was declared in order to select a design for the monument. The competition was won by George Miekle Kemp, a working joiner and self-taught architect who had attained recognition as an accomplished draughtsman, especially through his drawings of Melrose Abbey and Glasgow Cathederal. Although initially Kemp came third he embellished his design to win (though other professional architects of the time were not amused). The architect had met Scott in 1813 when the author, who was also the Sheriff of Selkirkshire, gave him a lift in his carriage. Kemp entered the competition as "John Morvo" who was a medieval master mason at Melrose Abbey. In 1838 Kemp was awarded the contract to build the monument but he never saw his ideas come to fruition - he tripped in a fog into the Union Canal in 1844 and drowned.
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. The statue of Sir Walter Scott is executed in Carrara marble and
is more than double life-size. The 30-ton block of marble actually fell into the harbour at Leghorn in Italy on its way to Edinburgh, but that does not seem to have had any adverse effectThe Foundation stone was laid on the 15th August 1840 (the anniversary of Scott's birthday) and in the autumn of 1844 the last stone was placed in the pinnacle by Kemp's young son, Thomas. The monument including the statue was officially inaugurated on 15th August 1846.
The Scott Monument is 200 ft. 6in high and 55ft. square at the base; the highest gallery is reached by climbing a total of 287 steps. It is constructed of Binnie stone, taken from shale workings near Linlithgow; this stone contains natural oils which are said to aid its preservation although as time has proved, was softer and more liable to corrosion from the atmosphere in "Auld Reekie" as Edinburgh was once called. The stonework has blackened
over the years and currently has a "piebald" effect from recent repairs to the stonework. The monument has 64 niches, in each of which, in accordance with the original design, a statuette has been placed. Several of these were contributed at the time of the original inauguration, and a movement instigated by James Ballantyne in 1870 brought the total to 32. The remainder were provided as a result of a motion placed before the town Council by Bailie Thomas Hall in 1881. All the statuettes represent characters from the works of Sir Walter Scott.
Opening hours:
1 April to 30 September:-
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 6pm Sunday: 10am to 6pm
1 October to 31 March Monday to Saturday: 9am to 3pm Sunday: 10am to 3pm
Tickets cost (2008 prices) Admission £3.00.
Telephone 0131 529 4068 for further information.
Scotland Bed and Breakfast listings and link for free
edinburgh guest house photos see accommodation online
Edinburgh bed and breakfast Edinburgh accommodation
Edinburgh accommodation Rates Checkout the price before you enquire
Edinburgh Hotel Links to all Edinburgh Accommodation
Sherwood Guest House - Edinburgh Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Edinburgh Great Bed and Breakfast - Central Edinburgh near Castle
Edinburgh Accommodation Guide - Bed and breakfast in Central Edinburgh
Edinburgh Bed and Breakfast - Maps on how to get there
Edinburgh Accommodation Guide - Guide to Accommodation in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Guest House - Whats on in Edinburgh
Scotland Hotels - Guide to hotels and bed and breakfast in Scotland
Glasgow Bed and Breakfast - Guide to bed and breakfast in Glasgow
Aberdeen Bed and Breakfast - Guide to bed and breakfast in Aberdeen
Edinburgh Guest House Golf Information from Edinburgh Sherwood
İall works on this site copyright of greig consultancy