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Floral Clock, West Princes Street Gardens

Floral Clock, West Princes Street Gardens

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Floral Clock, West Princes Street Gardens

Recommended by 43 hikers out of 44

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Location: New Town/Broughton, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Tips

Jaro🇵🇱⛷️🛶🚴🏃‍♂️

December 27, 2024

The Edinburgh Flower Clock was inspired by the 1902 carpet exhibition in West Princes Street Garden, commemorating the coronation of Edward VII. The following year John McHattie, then Keeper of the City Parks, and Edinburgh clockmakers James Ritchie and Son created the floral clock by installing the clock mechanism at the base of the Allan Ramsay Monument.

edinburghguide.com/venues/visitor-attractions/floral-clock

Translated by Google •

Jaro🇵🇱⛷️🛶🚴🏃‍♂️

December 27, 2024

Early designs for the clock were made by John McHattie, who was advised by James Mossman, a direct descendant of Mary Stuart's court jeweller. The first clock began ticking on 10 June 1903, with only an hour hand. A minute hand was added in 1904.

In 1905, a mechanism based on organ pipes and bellows, which played the sound of a cuckoo, was installed in a box next to the flower clock to keep time. The early mechanism did not include a cuckoo house or a full-size model of the bird.

Until 1928, the design of the flower clock was based on geometric shapes, and the numerals on the clock were clearly identified by a yellow-leaved plant. William Grant was appointed Head Gardener of Princes Street Gardens in 1928, and designed and supervised the planting of the clock until his retirement in 1946. During World War II, the patterns on the clock commemorated war events and victories.

A cuckoo house was installed in 1953, with a life-size replica cuckoo appearing outside the house to chime every quarter of an hour.

The original 1903 clockwork that powered the floral clock was converted to electric in 1973.

edinburghguide.com/venues/visitor-attractions/floral-clock

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Jaro🇵🇱⛷️🛶🚴🏃‍♂️

December 27, 2024

Each year, a new display is planted in West Princes Street Gardens, based on a current theme. In 2012, the clock celebrated the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and in 2022, the clock’s Platinum Jubilee. In 1994, it was inspired by the centenary of Robert Louis Stevenson, in 1974, the clock celebrated the 100th anniversary of West Princes Street Garden, and in 2023, the clock celebrates the centenary of the Flying Scotsman.

edinburghguide.com/venues/visitor-attractions/floral-clock

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 60 m

Weather

Today

Wednesday 29 October

10°C

4°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 25.0 km/h

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Location: New Town/Broughton, Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Floral Clock, West Princes Street Gardens

1. Edinburgh Castle – Royal Mile loop from Haymarket

2. Scott Monument – Edinburgh Castle loop from West End

3. Royal Mile – Scott Monument loop from Brunswick

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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