Burns is restored
Winged lions on monument to the Bard return
A painstaking restoration of the Burns Monument on Regent’s Road has been completed as part of the Twelve Monuments project, carried out by the Council and Edinburgh World Heritage.
There are now plans to use the space for festival events, poetry readings, storytelling and guided tours.
Because of the monument’s exposure to the elements on Calton Hill, a comprehensive £300,000 restoration programme was needed, including the replacement of some of the ornate stone carvings of winged lions and the removal of asphalt from the roof.
“The restoration of the Burns Monument has been a real achievement for the Twelve Monuments project,” said David McDonald, project manager for Edinburgh World Heritage.
“It is one of the buildings that gave Edinburgh its famous title of ‘Athens of the North’. Its intricate neo-Greek temple design presented a challenge, but the quality of the workmanship in repairing and replacing its detailed stone carving is first class.
“From the monument itself there is also a fantastic view of the city, which surely makes it a perfect venue for future public events.”
The Burns Monument was designed by Thomas Hamilton, the man behind the Royal High School, and work began in 1831. Dedicated to the poet, the monument overlooks the Canongate graveyard – the final resting place of his one time love Mrs Agnes MacLehose, or ‘Clarinda’.