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OFF THE BEATEN PATHThe Scott MonumentThis is hardly “off the beaten path” since it stands almost in the center of “downtown Edinburgh". However, the imposing monument (the second largest dedicated to a writer in the world) shows remarkable detail and many of the figures that appear on the monument are often overlooked. The monument, as the name clearly indicates, is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), one of Scotland’s most famous writers. Scott wrote not only a number of famous novels including Rob Roy, Lady of the Lake, Ivanhoe and The Bride of Lammermoor, the last of which serves as the story for Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor with its famous “mad scene” but also wrote plays and poetry. The Victorian Gothic monument faces Princes Street, while the opposite side faces the Princes Street Gardens. Waverley Station (named for Scott’s Waverley novels) is only a scant tenth of a mile away. The monument stands a shade over 200 feet tall. One can climb up the 288 steps to the highest viewing point in the monument. There are other viewing platforms on the way up. Wonderful views of Edinburgh can be seen at the each of the different levels. The design for the monument was awarded in 1838 to George Meikle Kemp, a self taught architect and the foundation stone was laid on August 15 1840. Within the four columns of the monument there is a statue of Sir Walter Scott with his dog, which was designed by John Steell. Sixty-four figures from Scott’s writings adorn the monument and were made by a variety of Scottish sculptures. The figures include Ravenswood, Lucy Ashton, Rebecca, Robert the Bruce, John Knox and Rob Roy. There are also carvings of some of Scotland’s poets and writers.   |