Plate 041 · Signal & Ceremonial · Industrial

Edinburgh One O'Clock Gun

A blank shot fired daily at 1 p.m. from Edinburgh Castle since 1861.

Historical Record

Provenance & Service

Instituted in 1861 as a time signal for ships in the Firth of Forth complementing the time-ball on Calton Hill, the One O'Clock Gun has fired (Sundays and holidays excepted) almost every day since. The current piece is a 105 mm L118 light gun. The signal still draws crowds to the Castle Esplanade.