Site type WAR MEMORIAL (20TH CENTURY)
Canmore ID 79631
Site Number NT27SE 1.31
NGR NT 25170 73474
Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF
Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF)
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH
Former County MIDLOTHIAN

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Treasured Places - HLF funded

Built between 1924-7, The Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. He reused part of an old barrack block to create a memorial comprising three elements: a hall of honours, a national shrine, and a roll of honour. A number of craftsmen and women were commissioned to produce sculpture and stained glass for the memorial, which is regarded as one of Scotland's most important buildings.

Information from RCAHMS (SC) 2 August 2007
Gifford, J, McWilliam, C, and Walker, D 1984
Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A 1996

An image of this site has been nominated as one of Scotland's favourite archive images. For more information about the project visit http://www.treasuredplaces.org.uk

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Archaeological Notes

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Architectural Notes

Sculpture of Knowledge and Truth by Alice Meredith-Williams
Sculpture of Charity by Percy Portsmouth.
Sculpture of Courage and Justice by Alexander Carrick
Captials of niches by Phyllis Bone
Unicorn and Lion at entrance by Phyllis Bone
Bronze frieze which encirles the Shrine Designed by Morris Meredith-Williams and executed by Alice Meredith-Williams
Shrine - figure of St Michael by Alice Meredith-Williams
'Remember also the Humble Beasts' carved by Phyllis Bone
Bronze gates of the Shrine - Ironwork by Thomas Hadden
Figures on Casket in Shrine - by Alice Meredith-Williams
Seven window of the Shrine by Douglas Strachan
South West bay. The Tunnellers' Friends - Carved by Phyllis Bone
'Lest we Forget' Carved over inner door of the porch - by Alice Meredith-William
Royal Marine Memorial, Reveille - Modelling by C D'o Pilkington Jackson
Memorial to the Chaplains to the Force - Bronze panel by Hazel Kennedy
Window in the SW Bay - stained glass by Douglas Strachan
Royal Artillery Panel (Bronze) - Sculptor: Alexander Carrick

REFERENCE
'Thatched with Gold' Autobiography of Duchess of Atholl, Refs. to Design

Notes and Activities

1919 to 1927

DESIGN

Further details

1924 to 1927

BUILD

Further details

1927	PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD

Notes Photographs taken around 1927, soon after the building was completed.

Further details

1927	PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD

Notes Photographs from the Lorimer Collection of the building at, or near, completion.

Further details

1970	PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD

Notes Photographs taken, or collected, by William McKelvie.

Further details

1997 to January 2010

PROJECT

Notes The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.

Further details

Books and References

Anon (1932) The Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS.R

Borg, A (1991) War memorials: from antiquity to the present, London
Held at RCAHMS G.1.2.BOR

Deas, F W (1937) The Scottish National War Memorial: official guide, Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS

Deas, F W ([19--?]) The Scottish National War Memorial: official guide, Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS.R

Gifford, McWilliam and Walker, J, C and D (1984) Edinburgh, The Buildings of Scotland series Harmondsworth
Page(s): 634-40 Held at RCAHMS Quick

Glendinning, MacInnes and MacKechnie, M, R and A (1996) A history of Scottish architecture from the Renaissance to the present day, Edinburgh
Page(s): 388-91 Held at RCAHMS F.2.1.GLE

Gow, I (1991f) 'The Scottish National War Memorial', in Pearson, F Virtue and vision: sculpture and Scotland 1540-1990 Edinburgh
Page(s): 105-6

Hay, I (1931) Their name liveth: the book of the Scottish National War Memorial, London
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS

Hay, I (1985) Their name liveth: the book of the Scottish National War Memorial, Revision Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS

McKean, C (1992a) Edinburgh: an illustrated architectural guide, RIAS/Landmark Trust series [s.l.]
Page(s): 5-6 Held at RCAHMS D.5.EDI

Savage, P (1973) An examination of the work of Sir Robert Lorimer, 3v. Bound photocopy of Ph D thesis
Page(s): Chapt. on HIstory of SNWM Commission Held at RCAHMS H.2.LOR

Scottish National War Memorial (1919) Report of the Committee appointed by the Secretary for Scotland to consider and report upon the utilisation of Edinburgh Castle for the purpose of a Scottish National War Memorial..., Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS.P

Scottish National War Memorial (1927) Scottish National War Memorial: opening ceremony by H R H The Prince of Wales, 14th July 1927 and visit of Their Majesties The King and Queen, [s.l.] (Edinburgh)
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS.R

Scottish National War Memorial (1931) Scottish National War Memorial: annual memorial ceremony, 1st July 1931, [s.l.] (Edinburgh)
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS.R

The Scottish National War Memorial Trustees (199-?) The Scottish National War Memorial: official guide, Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS.P

Thomson [MacDougall], L G (1929) 'The late Sir Robert Lorimer and his work' [obituary], RIAS Quarterly [Autumn] 1929 (No 31)
Page(s): 63-76

Weaver, Sir L (post-1927) The Scottish National War memorial at the Castle of Edinburgh: a record and an appreciation, London
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.CAS

The architecture of Sir Robert Lorimer 1864-1929, {s.l.}
Held at RCAHMS H.2.LOR.P

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