Nelson Monument, Edinburgh

The Nelson Monument is a commemorative tower for Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, rising on Calton Hill. Its unusual form is an upturned telescope, chosen by architect Robert Burn after Alexander Nasmyth’s costlier pagoda proposal was rejected. Built between 1807 and 1816, it honours Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar and his death in that battle.

The stone base has castellated walls, and above its entrance a carving shows the Spanish ship San Josef, captured by Nelson at Cape St Vincent. A time ball crowns the tower: installed in 1853, it drops at precisely 1 pm as a signal once used by shipping in Leith harbour. It now works in step with the One O’Clock Gun from Edinburgh Castle. After storm damage in 2007, the mechanism returned to service during restoration in 2009.