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Edinburgh, Calton Hill, City Observatory, Playfair's Monument
Commemorative Monument (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, Calton Hill, City Observatory, Playfair's Monument
Classification Commemorative Monument (19th Century)
Canmore ID 116624
Site Number NT27SE 1265
NGR NT 26227 74162
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/116624
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 1265 26227 74162
NT27SE 1265 26227 74162
See also:
NT27SE 202.00 26197 74184 City Observatory
Project (1997)
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 and again in 2012.
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.
Field Visit (4 April 2001)
Cube portico with four half-columns on each side. The columns are Doric with fluted shafts. The entablature has six wreaths on each side. The portico is on a stone pediment.
John Playfair (1748-1819), mathematician and natural philosopher, was the uncle of the architect William Henry Playfair.
Inspected By : Emma Retson
Inscriptions : On podium:
JOANNI PLAYFAIR / AMICORUM PIETAS / DESIDERIIS ICTA FIDELIBUS / QUO IPSE LOCO TEMPLUM URANIAE SUAE / OLIM DICAVERAT / HOC MONUMENTUM / POSUIT / MDCCCXXVI. / NAT. VI. IDUS MART. MDCCXLVIII. / OBIT. XIV. KAL. SEXTIL. MDCCCXIX.
Signatures : None Visible
Design period : 1825-1826
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0523)
