History in Structure

Scottish American War Memorial, West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

A Category B Listed Building in Edinburgh, Edinburgh

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.9511 / 55°57'3"N

Longitude: -3.201 / 3°12'3"W

OS Eastings: 325097

OS Northings: 673764

OS Grid: NT250737

Mapcode National: GBR 8MG.36

Mapcode Global: WH6SL.SPW6

Plus Code: 9C7RXQ2X+CH

Entry Name: Scottish American War Memorial, West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

Listing Name: West Princes Street Gardens, Scottish American Memorial

Listing Date: 14 December 1970

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 365223

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB27874

Building Class: Cultural

Also known as: Edinburgh, West Princes Street Gardens, Scottish American War Memorial

ID on this website: 200365223

Location: Edinburgh

County: Edinburgh

Town: Edinburgh

Electoral Ward: City Centre

Traditional County: Midlothian

Tagged with: World War I memorial

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Description

R Tait MacKenzie, 1924-7. Seated bronze figure of idealised young kilted soldier, on stone plinth. Ashlar wall to rear with long bronze relief panel with carved inscription below (see Notes).

Statement of Interest

The A Group comprises The Allan Ramsay Monument, The Cottage, Dr Guthrie's Monument, The Police Box, The Ross Fountain, The Royal Scots Greys Monument, The Royal Scots Memorial, The Scottish American Memorial, The Shelters, The Simpson Monument, The Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial and The Statuary Group, all in West Princes Street Gardens. The Scottish Americam Memorial was presented as a tribute from men and women of Scottish blood and sympathy in the USA to Scotland. The bronze figure represents 'The Call,' and is signed and dated by the artist, with stag's head symbol, to rear. The relief depicts men from all walks of life joining the forces, marching from left to right, with a pipe band to right. Inscription reads 'If it be life that waits I shall live forever unconquered; if death I shall die at last strong in my pride and free.' West Princes Street Gardens were laid out by James Skene for the Princes Street proprietors circa 1820. In 1866 John Dick Peddie produced a plan, shown in 2 water-colours entitled 'the Athens of the North,' one looking NE across E Princes Street Gardens, showing Calton Hill with a completed National Monument/Parthenon, and the other, looking W across W Princes Street Gardens, showing the Gardens as a 'Walhalla' with a broad terrace with monuments and mausolea, fountains and a winter garden. The gardens were acquired by the city in 1876 and further landscaped by Robert Morham.

External Links

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