Edinburgh, Leith, 128 Pitt Street
Warehouse (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Edinburgh, Leith, 128 Pitt Street
Classification Warehouse (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Memorial Plaque
Canmore ID 156987
Site Number NT27NE 757
NGR NT 26210 76247
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/156987
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Known as the Kultur Panel, an unusual panel of figures attacking a group of mostly women and children. The inscription above reads, 'The Valour of German Culture 1914'. The attackers are said to be German soldiers and the figures represent Belgian civilians. The panel was erected in 1915 to represent apparent German atrocities during the First World War.
The panel was designed in terracotta, now painted, by a William Baxter who according to a news report from the Leith Observer of 3rd July 1915, Mr Baxter had 'executed copies of the panel for England and Ireland'.
RCAHMS (CAJS) 2012.
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 (9 July 2003)
Four soldiers are shown massacring a group of women with babies. One, behind the largest figure at centre left, wears a tall plumed military hat. Seven women, in various positions, are classically draped / undraped. One, on the bottom right clutching her aggressor's leg, has her head and hands missing. Her assailant has his head and his left arm missing. A kneeling woman on the left is minus her right arm.
Inspected By : D. King
Inscriptions : Along top edge of curved frame:
THE VALOUR OF GERMAN CULTURE 1914
Signatures : None Visible
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0973)
