Members of the Friends of Calton Hill Committee visited the Nelson Monument on 10 January 2024, thanks to the City of Edinburgh Rangers who facilitated the visit to the museum and tower, closed since the beginning of the pandemic. Ironically a line of tourists followed us through the open doors. We have no shortage of customers!
The ground floor museum is in excellent condition. The original 19th-century features, panelling, woodwork, cornicing etc are all in good state and the exhibits are in situ, not piled in a corner.
The exterior design of the Nelson Monument, the upturned telescope castellated tower by Robert Burn, has always been controversial — there were proposals to demolish it — but the rooms curving around the base of the building are surprisngly beautiful, especially at the back where the windows give a fine view of the city.
Council staff have apparently come regularly and kept the museum heated. There was no mould, no smell of musiness, no stains on the walls — all in pristine condition.
Three of us climbed up to the viewing platform on the tower. The fabric of the stonework appears to be intact with water ingress only at the top, below the reportedly-broken black ball mechanism.
We hope any necessary repairs can be made soon so the monument can be re-opened to the public. If the council are unable to provide staff to admit visitors, the Friends would be more than happy to help provide a service so the museum could be re-opened for at least one or two days a week.
