Edinburgh, Calton Hill, Democracy Cairn

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.

Stone cairn, made from stones around Scotland and elsewhere, topped with a brazier, including medallions, three to each support:

1. Peace dove, man on horseback, three-pronged abstract.

2. Two open hands, bird on twig, inscription on plaque.

3. Part of globe, viking ship, Iona cross (Celtic).

4. Nuclear family, Celtic design, moon shape with compass.

Inspected By : AA. Campbell

Inscriptions : Plaque, metal, incised lettering, painted black, upper and lower case:

DEMOCRACIE CAIRN

This cairn was built by the keepers of the Vigil for a Scottish

Parliament. The Vigil was kept at the foot of this road. It began

on the night of the 10th April 1992 as news broke of the fourth

consecutive Conservative General Election victory. It ended

1980 days later. The previous day, 11th September 1997,

Scotland voted "Yes, Yes" for her own Parliament.

Erected by Democracy for Scotland, 10th April 1998

Plaque,granite, incised lettering painted black, upper and lower case:

For we ha'e faith

in Scotland's hidden poo'ers.

The present's theirs

but a' the past and future's oors.

Hugh MacDiarmid

Plaque, metal, screwed to cairn. Incised lettering, painted black, upper and

lower case:

On the twal hundreth day o the Vigil for a Scottish

Parliament, Julie 23rd 1995, a wheen o Vigil

fechtars brocht this stane frae the tap o Ben Nevis

tae be biggit intil the Democracie Cairn

Plaque, metal incised lettering, painted black, upper case:

Destiny marches

1993

Lochmaben

This stone from Bruce's castle

represents an earlier struggle

for self-determination by

the people of Scotland

Plaque, metal, incised lettering, painted black, upper case:

This stane was taen frae

The Mauchlin hame o

Robert Burns and Jean Armour

durin the renovation in 1966

the bicentenary o the poets daith

"The rank is but the Guinea's Stamp

The man's the gowd for a that."

Plaque, metal, incised lettering, painted black, upper case:

Paving stone from Paris

used for defending democracy

donated to the people of Scotland

by supporters in Paris

to commemorate the auld alliance

Plaque, metal, incised lettering, painted black, upper and lower case:

This stone from Auschwitz

is in memory of JANE HAINING

Scottish Missionary and all

others who died in the death camp

Signatures : None

Year of unveiling : 1998

Unveiling details : 10 April 1998

Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0472)