Mons Meg – Ink and Watercolour in a Watercolour Moleskine
(Another one to remind Rene of Edinburgh)
This large cannon, or “Bombard” sits proudly in Edinburgh Castle. It was built in 1449 near Mons in Wallonia then gifted to the Scottish King James 2nd. The “Meg” is thought to be named after “Margaret of Denmark – King James 3rd’s wife”. They knew how to flatter women in those days. Mons Meg weighs over 15,000 lbs (7,000kg), is 15ft long ( 4.5m) and fires round projectiles 20″ dia (500mm) weighing 400lbs (180kg). Its her heyday she could only be fired about 8 times a day as the build up of heat was huge. The range was around 2 miles. The carriage is not original – this a replacement built in 1835.
To all potential invaders – beware. She probably still works. Forget modern weaponry – Whar’s yer laser guided bombs noo?
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Nikira 10:11 pm on September 3, 2010 | #
Wow cool. In Moscow also famous Tsar-Cannon. Look at couple of links.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foje64/4830863974/
The Tsar Cannon (Russian: Царь-пушка) is an enormous cannon, commissioned in 1586 by Russian Tsar Feodor and cast by Andrey Chokhov.
The cannon weighs 39.312 metric tonnes[1] and has a length of 5.34 m (17.5 ft).[2] Its bronze-cast barrel has a calibre of 890 mm (35.0 in),[2] and an external diameter of 1,200 mm (47.2 in).[2] The Guinness Book of Records lists it as the largest bombard by caliber.[3]
Uncle Bob 11:00 am on September 4, 2010 | #
Incredible, Nikira. Makes our one look like a wee peashooter. These things must have been pretty awkward to move about. Thanks for this information
Leo 11:56 am on September 4, 2010 | #
Bob, the Czar-Cannon has NEVER been fired, actually. Speaks volumes about Russian mentality, doesn’t it? Moving mountains to make something that’s never utilized for its purpose. Well, it was most likely meant to be just a showpiece for Russian military might, industrial capacity, and craftsmanship. Five centuries later… nothing has changed. Example? The Soviet space program.
Uncle Bob 2:01 pm on September 4, 2010 | #
He He. Thanks Leo. The Edinburgh one HAS been fired but the last time was in 1680 (Apart from dummy charges at times like the new millennium). When it was last fired in anger – it broke. Some say the chap who loaded it, who was English, put too much powder in as he was jealous that England did not possess as big a gun. Ah dear. Fancy spreading that rumour! The Scots really love our English cousins.