The time ball and mast

The time ball and mast were successfully lowered into position on the Nelson Monument on Tuesday, June 30th. Although City Museums Manager Frank Little was on the hill to witness the historic event, Dorothy Marsh the city’s Keeper of Conservation could not be present as she was on holiday.

In addition to Dorothy’s assistant Paul MacCauley, also directing operations were the Director of James Ritchie & Son, Alan Wilson whose firm has been connected with the time ball for over 150 years and Andrew Laing from Charles Laing & Son who renovated the time ball.

Communications Manager David Hicks of Edinburgh World Heritage the organisation responsible for raising the funding for the project also on the hill, while Fiona Devlin the city’s Community Parks Officer kept an eye on the operation to ensure that the trees and bushes surrounding the monument were not damaged. As there was no wind, the time ball was lifted off the lorry by a Forsyth of Denny’s crane and expertly lowered into place.

The work on the monument is five weeks ahead of schedule and it should not be long until the scaffolding is removed.

Photograph courtesy of Edinburgh World Heritage.