View from the Scott Monument of the Balmoral Hotel

Category

Library Item

Item no

21439

Title

View from the Scott Monument of the Balmoral Hotel, Waverley Market and Calton Hill

Description

The east end of Princes Street and Waterloo Place are viewed from the vantage point of the Scott Monument. The Balmoral Hotel's large clock tower is prominent in the skyline. In front of the Balmoral is a pedestrianised zone which is the roof of the Princes Mall shopping centre. Buses and cars travel along the road, and many pedestrians walk along the pavements. Scaffolding has been put up on the Royal British Hotel building. South St David's Street has been closed off to traffic. In the background Calton Hill, and the Firth of Forth can be seen.

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2010

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh's Balmoral Hotel stands on the corner of North Bridge and Princes Street. The hotel was designed by William Hamilton Beatie. Its construction took place alongside that of the new North Bridge, and was completed in 1902. Formerly called the North British Hotel, it was owned by the North British Railway Company. It was sold by British Rail in the 1980's, and reopened in 1991 under its new name following extensive refurbishment. Its distinctive clock tower forms an unmistakable part of Edinburgh's skyline. It stands at just under 60 metres, with the clock face itself, designed by Hamilton and Inches, being taller than a double-decker bus.

Waterloo Place is situated at the east end of Princes Street. It is carried by Regent Bridge over the Low Calton ravine between Princes Street and Calton Hill.

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is another of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Clocks and clock towers

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Business > Service industry > Shops

Landscape > Land > Hills

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > New Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Plants > Trees > Trees

Sport and leisure > Public accommodation facilities > Hotels

Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

Transport > Infrastructure > Walkways

Transport > Land > Buses

Transport > Land > Cars

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