Pillars, The Meadows (East), Edinburgh

Pillars, The Meadows, Edinburgh, were designed by John Lessels in 1880. They consist of two square freestanding polished ashlar pillars, each topped with carved heraldic beasts: a lion on the northern pillar and a unicorn on the southern pillar. These pillars support the castle emblem of the City of Edinburgh. The base features a pedestal with architraved panels and rope-moulded nook-shafts at the corners, along with miniature carved capitals. There is a foliate frieze that sweeps up to the cornice, and a plinth that supports the heraldic statuary. The shield on the northern pillar reads: "The Right Hon Thomas J Boyd, Lord Provost 1880," while the shield on the southern pillar states: "Presented to the City of Edinburgh by Messrs T Nelson and Sons."