Cleopatra's Needle, London

When in London in 2011 we were surprised to encounter two large sphinx on the Thames embankment.

The sphinx are either side of an Egyptian obelisk, part of which is shown in the photo below. The models of the sphinx, designed by George Vulliamy and modelled by C. H. Mabey, were added to the site in 1882. Unfortunately they are facing the wrong way - they should be guarding the obelisk, facing away from it.

The obelisk dates back to around 1450 BC and was originally erected at Heliopolis in Egypt on the orders of Thutmose III. It was one of three known structures erected at this time. It is known under the name of Cleopatra's Needle but has no connection with that Queen of Egypt. One of the plaques on base of the monument reads:

The obelisk was presented to the United Kingdom in 1819 by Muhammad Ali, ruler of Egypt and Sudan, in commemoration of Lord Nelson's victory against the French Navy at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 and the victory of Sir Ralph Abercromby's troops against the French at the Battle of Alexandria in  March 1801.

It was not until 1877 that attempts were made to transport the obelisk to London. It was encased in an iron capsule named the Cleopatra and towed to England. All went well until a storm in the Bay of Biscay when it was thought that the capsule had been lost. However it survived and was towed to England by a second ship. The obelisk was erected on the bank of the Thames on 12 September 1878.

During the First World War on the night of the 4th of November German bombers dropped bombs on London. One of the bombs landed near the obelisk. Shrapnel from the bomb damaged the plinth of the obelisk and also one of the sphinx. The damage on these monuments remains as a memory of that raid. The blog, Great War London, provides information about the German raid and damage that occurred.

The Imperial War Museum has a photo of the sphinx after the air raid showing the damage not only to the monument but also more serious damage close by.

Nelson Monument, Edinburgh

Located on Calton Hill in Edinburgh is the Nelson Monument, commemorating the victory of the British Fleet over the French and Spanish Fleets and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The 106 foot monument is built to resemble an upside down telescope. One hundred and forty-three steps have to be climbed to reach the top of the tower. It is built on the highest section of the hill and was designed to be viewed by ships on the Firth of Forth. The architect was Robert Burn (1752-1815). The Nelson Monument replaced a signalling mast previously on the sight.  A mast stands at the top of the monument and the famous Trafalgar flag signal 'England expects that every man will do his duty' is flown each year to mark Trafalgar Day (21st October).

Planning for the monument began a month after the death of Lord Nelson. The foundation stone for the monument was laid in 1807 and the main tower was built by 1808. Then the money for the project ran out. Work again began on the project in 1814 and was completed in 1815.

In 1852 a time ball was added to help ship captains reset their chronometers each day. This is dropped at 1 o'clock each afternoon. As the time-ball could not always be seen if the weather was foggy, a cannon at Edinburgh Castle was fired at the same time. The time-ball is still dropped at 1.00 pm six days a week.

Nelson Monument - Calton Hill architecture

Battle of Trafalgar - BBC History

Battle of Trafalgar - History Channel

National Monument of Scotland

The National Memorial of Scotland can be found in the Regent Gardens on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. The building was erected as a memorial to Scottish servicemen who died during the Napoleonic Wars (between 1803 and 1815) but the building was never completed due to lack of funds. Modelled on the Pathenon in Athens, it remains an impressive structure.

The foundation stone for the monument was laid in 1822 and building began in 1826, but building ceased in 1829 when money for the project ceased. The monument was designed by Charles Robert Cockerell (1788-1863) and  William Henry Playfair (1790-1857), who designed many of the well known buildings in Edinburgh including the National Gallery of Scotland, Old College at University of Edinburgh and Regent Terrace, Royal Terrace and Calton Terrace, part of Edinburgh's New Town. Cockerell was the senior architect when the design was submitted but Playfair is the architect most closely associated with the project.

Located on top of the hill the monument provides views of surrounding country side as well as views of the city.

Although only twelve of the pillars were erected, it is a prominent structure on the hill even though locating information about the significance of the building can be a challenge.

 It remains a popular place with tourists and others visiting Calton Hill.

Lost Edinburgh - the Scotsman 17 February 2014

William Henry Playfair - Undiscovered Scotland