Melville Monument, Memorial column in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Melville Monument is a tall column in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, featuring a Doric capital and vertical fluting along the shaft. A statue of Henry Dundas crowns the top of the structure, carved as a dominant focal point above the plaza.
Construction of the monument began in 1821 following the death of Henry Dundas, a prominent Scottish statesman, and was completed in 1827. The project emerged from Edinburgh's effort to honor his political legacy.
The monument displays a commemorative plaque added in 2021 that acknowledges Henry Dundas's involvement in delaying the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade. This inscription shapes how visitors understand the site's meaning in the city today.
An internal spiral staircase allows access to parts of the pedestal inside the column for those seeking closer views. Visitor access may vary depending on weather conditions and maintenance schedules.
The statue was carved by Robert Forrest based on Francis Chantrey's original design, drawing inspiration from Rome's Trajan's Column. This connection to one of Rome's most celebrated monuments gives the Scottish structure a classical bearing.
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