During a trip to Paris in 1846, Edinburgh native John Hewitt was both surprised and impressed by a gun that fired everyday at noon, by which people checked their watches. He immediately decided the Scottish capital needed something similar.
Despite Hewitt’s early efforts, the Time Gun was actually preceded in Edinburgh by the Time Ball, which was erected at the top of the Nelson Monument on Carlton Hill in 1852, for the use of ships docked at nearby Leith. Just before one o’clock the ball is hoisted to the top of the mast, and then dropped precisely on the hour. Following its introduction, Hewitt renewed his campaign for a Time Gun, citing its value in foggy weather when the Time Ball is obviously useless.
Hewitt eventually got his wish in June 1861, when the first One O’clock Gun was fired from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. Since then, the gun has been fired every day (except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day), apart from during the two World Wars.
Although no longer needed for its original purpose, the boom of the One O’clock Gun has become a tradition that each day echoes across the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, and is loved by locals and tourists alike.
The current Edinburgh Time Gun is the fourth to be used in this role. But it’s not the only famous cannon at Edinburgh Castle. Mons Meg is one of a pair of giant siege guns (or bombards) given to King James II of Scotland in 1457. In many ways it was a forerunner to the Time Gun since, after it was retired from actual military service, it was used to fire salutes from the castle on important occasions.
I’m afraid the images featured here are scans of photos taken by Rich in 2004, so lack something in the sharpness department… especially the one of the One O’clock Gun actually firing!
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