St Margaret's Chapel and Mons Meg

Category

Library Item

Item no

2008

Title

St Margaret's Chapel and Mons Meg

Description

St Margaret's Chapel and Mons Meg in Edinburgh Castle. The cannon with inscriptions on its gun carriage sits in front of the church. Steps lead into the arched entrance of the chapel.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1905

Size

15.0 x 20.2 cm

Type

Photograph

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.

Find out more about visiting Edinburgh Castle at Historic Environment Scotland.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Chapels