One O'clock! Image of the Nelson Monument Time Ball

Category

Library Item

Item no

470

Title

One o'clock! Image of the Nelson Monument time ball

Description

A bird's-eye view of the time ball on top of the Nelson Monument, Calton Hill. The view down Princes Street, with Edinburgh Castle in the distance, can be clearly seen.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1861

Size

30.5 x 22.7 cm

Type

Lithograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

In 1853 the 'Time-Ball' was installed on top of the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill. It drops every day at exactly 1pm, originally to give a time signal to ships in the Firth of Forth. From 1861 onwards this signal was accompanied with the firing of the One O'Clock Gun from Edinburgh Castle.

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres (355 feet) and is another of the city's hills which is made of volcanic rock. It is now renowned for the collection of monuments which include the Nelson Monument, the National Monument (Edinburgh's disgrace), the City Observatory and also monuments to Duguld Stewart and William Playfair.

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Related images

Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > New Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Dugald Stewart Monument

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Nelson Monument

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Scott Monument

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

(55°57′16″N, 3°10′57″W)

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