Edinburgh Castle

National War Memorial

The National War Memorial was originally the location of St. Mary's church in Edinburgh Castle; the church was converted into an ammunition house in 1540, then demolished in the 1750s to make way for a new barracks and was used as this until 1923.

The building was then adapted as the nation's memorial to the dead from the Great War of 1914-18 and was formally opened by the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII, in 1927. It now also commemorates those who died in World War II and in medal areas from 1945.

Inside is the Hall of Honour, which was originally called the Hall of the Regiments, where the contribution of Scotland's twelve regiments and other corps and services are recorded. Beyond this is the Shrine where a steel casket contains a complete Roll of Honour of the Scottish dead. The casket sits on a piece of exposed rock - the highest point of the castle rock itself. The figure of St. Michael, the Archangel, soars overhead and the stained-glass windows and bronze friezes give impressions of the Great War.

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