Monument To Colonel Mackenzie, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

The monument to Colonel Kenneth Mackenzie is a sandstone cross located on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Designed by the Victorian sculptor Sir John Steell in 1875, the cross features intricate Celtic carvings with stylized foliage on all four sides. At the base of the shaft, mythical beasts are depicted; on the south side, there is a winged goat on the left and an unidentifiable creature on the right, while the north side shows a winged hare or rabbit on the left and a cow-like creature on the right. The cross is set on a rubble plinth, which has an inscribed pink granite plaque on its south side. The inscription commemorates Colonel Kenneth Douglas Mackenzie, who served for forty-two years in the 92nd Highlanders and on the Army staff worldwide. It highlights his service in the field, his character, and the affection of his friends. The inscription notes his birth in Dundee on February 1, 1811, and his death on duty at Dartmoor on August 24, 1873, along with his life motto, "Godliness with contentment is great gain!"