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Inauguration of the Scott Monument, at Edinburgh
The Illustrated London News
22 August 1846
Sir John Steell (1804-91)
17 cm x 16 cm (6 ¾ by 6 ¼ inches) vignetted, p. 125.
Princes-street Gardens
Edinburgh
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Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham
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The inauguration ceremony of the Scott Monument undertaken on 15 August 1846 is described earlier in this issue of The Illustrated London News, although this detail of the Scots pipers, standard bearers, Masonic and civic officials does not suggest a “sea of people, stretching the length of East Princes-street Gardens.”
The details of this very interesting ceremony will be found on page 114 of the present number; and, on the preceding page [113], we have engraved the Statue, of size sufficient to show the classic grace of this beautiful production of the chisel of Mr. Steell.
The annexed Illustration shows the ceremony, immediately after the Statue was opened, i. e., the canvas withdrawn; and upon the steps are the several personages who took part in the formal inauguration of this splendid tribute to Scott's genius. [125]
Among those officiating on a day that began in rain were the original and auxiliary Committees of the Monument, most of the Masonic lodges of Edinburgh, and other public bodies. In the background, the Turf Hotel in Princes-street displayed flags and banners, which were repeated on the streets traversed by a detachment of the 3rd Dragoon Guards who accompanied the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, together with the Magistrates of Easter and Wester Portsburgh, and the Magistrates of Canongate and Leith. "At about a quarter past two, the weather having auspiciously cleared up, the procession moved in the following order: —"
Mounted Military Band, Auxiliary Scott-Monument Committee, in threes. Magistrates of Easter Portsburgh, their Constables, and Suite. Magistrates of Wester Portsburgh, their Constables, and Suite. Magistrates of Canongate, with their Constables, those of Calton, and Suite. Magistrates of Leith, with their Constables and Suite. High Constables of the City. Various Lodges of Freemasons. The Grand Lodge of Scotland, with the Grand Master, and all the Office-bearers. Detachment of Dragoons. [114]
Colston, John. History of the Scott Monument, Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 1881. Rpt. Pitfield, Milton Keynes: Legare Street Press.
"Inauguration of the Scott Monument, Edinburgh." The Illustrated London News.. Vol. IX, No. 225 (22 August 1846), 125.
"Scott Monument." Wikipedia. Viewed 20 September 2007.
Watt, Francis M., and Andrew Carter. "From Castle to Palace." Picturesque Scotland: Its Romantic Scenes & Historical Associations Described in Lay and Legend, Song and Story.. London: John M. Murdoch [1887?], pp. 22-39.
"Waverely Ball, Edinburgh — Statues for the Scott Monument." The Illustrated London News, No. 154, Vol. 6 (12 April 1845): 237-238.
Created 24 June 2025