Maroon Mile Haymarket Memorial

The Haymarket War Memorial

Stop one of the Maroon Mile

The Maroon Mile Heritage Trail begins at Haymarket War Memorial, the clock outside Haymarket Railway Station, which is dedicated to the Hearts players, members, supporters, and all the people of Edinburgh who fell in the Great war (1914-1918) and WW2 (1939-1945).

The memorial was designed by Sir Thomas Duncan Rhind, sculpted by Henry Snell Gamely RSA, and built by Messrs John Angus and Sons. The final component of the memorial, the clock, was designed and made by James Ritchie and sons. It was unveiled on 9 April 1922 in front of a crowd of 22,000 people.

The memorial continues to be the site of Heart of Midlothian’s annual Remembrance Service, which is attended by local residents, Hearts supporters, and representatives from Scottish football and local government.

As part of the National Heritage Lottery funded Maroon Mile Project, Heart of Midlothian Football Club undertook essential works to dignify the memorial in the summer of 2024. The stone immediately surrounding the War Memorial was replaced with a more decorative stone, inscribed with suitable quotations, helping to restore its dignity as a significant place of remembrance. Expert advice on the cleaning and conservation of the monument was also undertaken, and a conservation plan commissioned to ensure that it is cared for using best practice and preserved for future generations.