Looking up Howe Street to Edinburgh Castle from the tower of

St Stephen's Church

St Vincent Street, Stockbridge

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St Stephen's Church Church  -  St Vincent Street, Stockbridge

Location

St Stephen's Church was designed by William H Playfair, and was built in 1827-28 for a cost of £18,975.  Its prominent frontage looks up St Vincent Street, then Howe Street, towards Edinburgh Castle.

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The architect was instructed that he should spare no expense on the front, of the building, but he could economise round the back.

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Staircase to the Clock

Inside the church there are some interesting staircases. One leads around the walls of the church tower up to the clock.  In the centre of the tower is empty apart from a hanging clock weight (which has a 70m drop) and a large pendulum (reputed to be the longest in Europe).

Staircase to the Roof of the Tower

Above the clock, there are more staircases, leading to the roof.

One of these passes  an old wheel that used to operate the church bell.  I asked the clock winder how long it was since the bell last rang.  He answered: "About 10 minutes."

It must be a long time since the wheel last operated, but the bell is now apparently operated electronically.

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All the photographs on this page were taken in May 1996

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