Timely reminder of city’s past

Edinburgh’s famous time-ball, which sits on top of the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill, is set to be restored thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £50,000.

The time-ball first began operation in 1852. Its original purpose was to enable ships’ captains in Leith docks to set their chronometers accurately by watching the dropping of the ball at 1pm each day.

This was vital for accurate navigation, and a few seconds out in the setting of chronometers could spell disaster at sea. Nine years later, the One O’Clock gun at Edinburgh Castle was added, to give an audible signal.

The time-ball has been out of action for 18 months however, having suffered extensive damage in last year’s gales.

The Nelson Monument itself will also see work, with some stonework repair and replacement, and extensive re-pointing in lime mortar. The work is part of the Twelve Monuments project, a partnership between Edinburgh World Heritage and the Council, with support from the One O’Clock Gun Association and the Friends of Hillside and Calton Area Association.

The conservation work is estimated to take around six months and is expected to cost around £230,000. Further fundraising continues and it is hoped to start work in the new year.