Mons Meg and St Margaret's Chapel

Category

Library Item

Item no

15304

Title

Mons Meg and St Margaret's Chapel

Artist / maker

Inglis, Francis Caird

Date

1925

Size

10.5 x 16.3 cm

Type

Photograph; Reproduction

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Castle is perhaps the city's most famous landmark. It stands on top of the remaining core of an extinct volcano. Excavations suggest the site was inhabited by Bronze Age man as early as 900 BC, and was fortified by Iron Age man roughly 2000 years ago. The oldest part of the present day Castle is St Margaret's Chapel. It was built in the early 12th century by David I in honour of his mother, Margaret, who died in 1093. The Castle holds the Honours of Scotland and more recently has welcomed back the Stone of Scone otherwise known as the Stone of Destiny.

Mons Meg is a large siege gun presented to James II by Philip, Duke of Burgundy in 1457. It is one of a pair constructed in Mons in present day Belgium. The gun's sheer size limited its mobility and therefore its military utility. Mons Meg continued to be used for ceremonial purposes until 1681 when it burst whilst being fired to celebrate the Duke of Albany's birthday. It was repaired but has not been fired since.

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Related subjects

Military > Arms and armament > Cannons

People > Military activities > Soldiers

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Edinburgh Castle

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Chapels

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