One O'clock Gun | BSL Tour of Edinburgh Castle

One O'Clock Gun History

This section discusses the history and significance of the One O'Clock Gun in Edinburgh.

The Origin and Purpose of the One O'Clock Gun

• The One O'Clock Gun, a famous landmark, fires daily except on Sundays, Christmas Day, or Good Friday.

• It began firing in 1861 to help ships set their clocks by the time signal. Initially, ships used Nelson's Monument's time ball dropping at 1 pm in 1853 as a reference point.

Evolution of Firing Mechanism and Special Occasions

• Due to poor visibility during foggy weather, the gun started firing simultaneously with the time ball drop.

• On special occasions like the Queen's birthdays in June and April, two additional guns are fired for a total of 21 rounds as a salute.

• Health and safety regulations led to reducing the gun cartridge size from 100mm to 50mm for decreased noise levels.