Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Brassfounders Column
In or near Edinburgh.
Brassfounders Column is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 15 min–45 min
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley · 0.7 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Brassfounders Column, you can take a train to Edinburgh Waverley station, which is 0.7 km away. Entry to the memorial is free.
About
Brassfounders Column is a public memorial or monument in the United Kingdom. Coordinates: 55.9460°, -3.1854°. This entry is part of The Great Britain Guide, a free, ad-free, open-data tourist directory.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
The Brass Founders' Pillar, also known as the Brassfounders Column, is a monumental column in Edinburgh, Scotland.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
Official information
The Spirit of Scotland Show in Edinburgh offers an immersive experience of traditional Scottish music and dance. Visitors can enjoy a captivating evening filled with performances, including the famous Haggis Ceremony, alongside a selection of authentic Scottish cuisine.
From the Wikipedia article
The Brass Founders' Pillar, also known as the Brassfounders Column, is a monumental column in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The column was designed by James Gowans as the showpiece for the Brassfounders' Guild of Edinburgh and Leith for the International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, a world's fair held in Edinburgh in 1886. The statue at the top of the statue depicts Tubal-cain and was designed by John Stevenson Rhind. At the fair, the column won a gold medal. Following the fair, the monument was moved to Nicolson Square in Edinburgh, where it still stands. In 2008, the square and column underwent slight restoration.
Architecture
The monument consists of a granite base with a bronze square shaft consisting of six tiers. Each tier shows a heraldic coat of arms. The bronze statue of Tubal-cain on top of the shaft is in reference to his description in the Book of Genesis as being the first metalsmith. A bronze plaque attached to the base reads:
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.9460, -3.1854
- District
- City of Edinburgh
- Postcode
- EH8 9BX
- Parliamentary constituency
- Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
- Phone
- +44 131 618 9899
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley — 0.7 km
- Official site
- spiritofscotlandshow.co.uk
Sources
- osm: n442615638 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Brass Founders' Pillar (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Colonne Brassfounders Édimbourg 2.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Brassfounders Column?
- Brassfounders Column is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH8 9BX).
- What is Brassfounders Column?
- Brassfounders Column is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Brassfounders Column?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH8 9BX.
- Is Brassfounders Column a listed building?
- Brassfounders Column is officially recognised as category B listed building listed.
- Is Brassfounders Column free to visit?
- Yes, Brassfounders Column is free to enter.
- How do I get to Brassfounders Column?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH8 9BX.