Comments on 'The Stones of Scotland' Monument in Regent Road Park, Edinburgh - A monument to commemorate the new Scottish Parliament

The Stones of Scotland

Regent Road Park

A monument to commemorate the new Scottish Parliament

'The Stones of Scotland' monument is a recent creation, using stones from around Scotland. It is in Regent Road Park, overlooking the Palace of Holyrood and the New Scottish Parliament.

Regent Road Park is a small plot of land on the north side of Regent Road, about half a mile to the east of the East End of Princes Street.

A notice beside the monument explains:

'The Stones of Scotland' mark the spirit of Scotland' new Parliament.

The first stone was lain in December 2000. The monument was completed in December 2002 with thirty-two stones gathered from all the Regions. The sculpture is by George Wyllie, in association with Kenny Munro, Lesley-May Miller and Stuart Rogers.

A stone in the centre of the monument quotes the last five lines from the following words by Hugh MacDairmid (1892-1978).

"It requires great love of it deeply to read
The configuration of a land
Gradually grow conscious of the fine shadings
of great meanings in slight symbols.
Hear at last the great voice that speaks softly.
See the swell and fall upon the flank
Of a statue carved out of a whole country's marble
Be like Spring, like a hand in a window
Moving New and Old things carefully to and fro.
Moving a fraction of a flower here
Placing an inch of air there
And without breaking anything.

So I have gathered unto myself
All the loose ends of Scotland
And by naming them and accepting them,
Loving them and identifying myself with them,
Attempt to express the whole."

There is also a raised stone in the centre of the monument with two carvings on it:

- '2000' (the year) and

- a footprint

In front of the stone is another inscription - the following words in front of the stone, taken from Tessa Ransford's poem, 'Incantation':

"... whose the tread that fits this mark?"