The Scott Monument is located within Edinburgh and is a



The Scott Monument is located within Edinburgh and is a Victorian Gothic monument which was created in the honour of Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is located within the Princes Street Gardens and is situated opposite the Jenners department store which is located on Princes Street and close to Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station. The tower is 200 feet and 6 inches in height and it offers numerous viewing decks which can be reached using a series of narrow spiral stairways. These viewing decks offer fantastic panoramic views of the centre of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. The highest viewing deck can be reached by climbing 287 steps; anybody who does reach this deck is awarded a certificate to congratulate them on reaching this peak. The monument was constructed from Binny sandstone which was obtained from the nearby quarry in Ecclesmachan.
When the author died in 1832 there was a competition which was held in order to gain a design for the monument which would honour his life. An entrant which was unusual went under the pseudonym of John Morvo, this is the name of the medieval architect who is responsible for Melrose Abbey. The entrants real name was actually George Meikle Kemp; he was a forty five year old joiner, draftsman and self taught architect. Kemp had chosen to use a different name as he feared his lack of architectural qualifications and the lack of a reputation would disrupt his attempt from winning. Although despite this, his design was successful and was selected by the panel of judges. The winning design was very similar to an unsuccessful design which he previously entered for the design of Glasgow Cathedral. The designer John Steell was commission to design and create a monumental statue of Scott; this was positioned in the space between the towers four columns. The statue which Steell created was made from white Carrara marble, it features Scott seated, resting from his writing work with a quill pen and high dog Maida by his side. The foundation stone for the monument was laid on the 15th August 1840, this occurred after an Act of Parliament permitting it. The construction of the monument began a year later in 1841; this lasted for nearly four years. The completion of the tower was in autumn 1844, Kemps son placed the finial in August 1844. The monument was opened on the 15th August, although George Meikle Kemp was not present, during the evening of the 6th March he was walking home on a foggy evening and fell into the Union Canal, he unfortunately drowned. Restoration work was completed at the monument during the 1990s, at this time the monument was closed. During the early 1990s the monument was covered with scaffolding for several years and the monument closed again in 1998 for further restoration. The overall cost of restoration reached 2.36 million and was covered by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.