View source for Edward's Pillar

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2020}}
{{coord|6|0|59|N|80|14|25|E|type:landmark_region:LK|display=title}}
'''Edward's Pillar''' or '''Galle Tower''' is a masonry column, which was used as a [[Triangulation station|trigonometrical altitude station]], located on the summit of Rumassala Kanda in [[Unawatuna]].<ref name=SH>{{cite journal|journal=The Galle Tower or Eward's Pillar|author=Situge, Hemantha|date=January 2001|title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka|volume=46|page=123-126|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka}}</ref>
The {{convert|15.3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high column is located upon the hill, {{convert|80.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite book|title= The Bay of Bengal Pilot (pilot guide)|author=[[United Kingdom Hydrographic Office|Great Britain Hydrographic Department]]|publisher=Great Britain Hydrographic Department|date=1892|page=55-56}}</ref> Originally painted white it also served as a leading navigational mark for vessels entering the western channel into [[Galle Harbour]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A Directory for the Navigation of the Indian Ocean, with Descriptions of Its Coasts, Islands, Etc: From the Cape of Good Hope to the Strait of Sunda and Western Australia, Including Also the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf; the Winds, Monsoons, and Currents, and the Passages from Europe to Its Various Ports|author=Findlay, Alexander George|publisher=Richard Holmes Laurie|date=1870|place=London|page=848}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Sailing Directions for the West Coast of India from Point Calimere to Cape Monze Including Ceylon, Pamban Pass, and Palk Gulf: Issued Under Authority of the Secretary of the Navy|author=United States Hydrographic Office|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|date=1931|page=169}}</ref> The pillar was erected in 1875 by W. Burton of the [[Survey Department of Sri Lanka|Ceylon Survey Department]] for trigonometrical work.<ref name=SH/> The station was originally recorded as "Top of Galle Tower or Gibson's Hill near Galle Harbour". Gibson's Hill, now known as Rumassala Kanda,<ref>{{cite journal|title=The New Monthly Magazine|volume=107|publisher=Chapman and Hall|editor=Ainsworth, William Harrison|place=London|date=1856|page=361}}</ref> was named after William Carmichael Gibson, the first English Master Attendant of Galle Harbour, who resided on the hill.<ref name=SH/><ref>{{cite book|title=List of inscriptions on tombstones and monuments in Ceylon, of historical or local interest, with an obituary of persons uncommemorated|author=Lewis, John Penry|publisher=Dalcassian Publishing Company|date=1913|page=184}}</ref>
Some locals, incorrectly, believe that it was erected as a fake lighthouse during [[World War I]] or served as a military lookout.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2013/09/15/jun02.asp|title=The legacy of Unawatuna|newspaper=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Observer]]|date=15 September 2013|accessdate=14 July 2020}}</ref>
On 6 July 2007, it was formally recognised by the Government as an Archaeological Protected Monument.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/gz/2007/6/2007-06-06(I-I)E.pdf|date=6 July 2007|title=Part I : Section (I) — General Government Notifications|journal=[[The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka]]|volume=1505}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[Peace Pagoda#Unawatuna, Sri Lanka|Unawatuna Peace Pagoda]]
* [[Unawatuna]]
[[Category:Towers in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Galle District]]
[[Category:Archaeological protected monuments in Galle District]]
[[Category:Surveying]]