The Great Tapestry of Scotland

After my labours finishing the quilt I rewarded myself today with an artist's date trip out. In contrast to yesterday the day was grey and wet but no matter as I spend it mainly indoors immersed in the colourful history of Scotland. The Great Tapestry of Scotland was on display in Cockenzie House, seen above. This house itself is part of Scottish history, dating from the 17th Century and starting life as a Jacobean mansion. So it was a great chance to see it from the inside and I enjoyed having lunch in the resident coffeeshop.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland began as an idea by the Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith who was inspired by the Prestonpans Tapestry which in turn was based on the Bayeux Tapestry. Ironically none of these are tapestries (i.e. weavings) but they are all embroideries. All the 160 or so panels of the Great Tapestry of Scotland were designed by the Scottish artist (resident of Cockenzie) Andrew Crummy and the work was executed by embroiderers (mainly women) from the length and breath of Scotland. Each panel was made by either an existing group or one that was formed specially for this purpose. As you can imagine I can't show you all the panels so what you're getting is a random selection from the ones that for one reason or another attracted my attention. No excuses for the fact that many of the ones I've selected feature women. Men feature overly large in history and I'm always trying to rectify that situation!

Above the very first panel showing the emergence of Scotland from the sea.

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Those of you familiar with the history of Scotland are aware that it is steeped in battle and bloodshed for many different reasons, quite a lot of them religious! Above a detail from the invasion by the Vikings.

 

 Queen Margaret of Scotland

 The effect of the Black Death on the Scottish population in the 14th Century.

Rosslyn Chapel's Apprentice Column 

The chapel is quite near us and I have paid many visits there, so I just wanted to included it for that reason but also because the column is a master work of stitching. 

And I couldn't exclude the Border Rievers conflicts as they took place in the Scottish Borders where I live. I also loved the beautiful portrayal of the horses.

Witches were burned enthousiastically in Scotland and this panel shows one of the first of these tragic events which killed mostly women.

Scots are world travellers. Not only have they emigrated far and wide over the centuries but many of them were involved in the British East India Company. This was one of my favourites among the panels because of its colourful nature and the wide variety of embroidery stitches used. It was hanging in quite a dark room and use of flash wasn't allowed. I've cleaned it up digitally as best I could but to appreciate this one fully you need to see it in person. The exhibition will be on in Cockenzie House till the 8th December and is open from 10 - 4 every day including Sundays (last admission 3pm). Admission is free but a voluntary contribution of £3.50 is appreciated.

After my recent visit to the Museum of Scotland the paisley pattern was still fresh in my mind and here it is again on one of the panels.

James Clerk Maxwell is one of Scotlands most respected scientists.

For that reason alone I would have included him but the stitching on this one was particularly fine too.

The above panel commemorates a tragic disaster at see when the yacht Iolaire sunk just off Stornoway. It was on it's way to bring home men from the islands returning from the First World War. Imagine dying when you have survived a horrific war and are within sight of home. Maritime disasters have an extra poignancy when you're married to a sailor.

 Fair Isle knitting

 Tenement living

 The ceaseless sea from which Scotland rose and which surrounds her to this day.

In 1999 after many centuries Scotland regained it's own Parliament. A matter of great pride for all Scots and one that was presented beautifully here where the nation was sewn back together. I love the imagery and the beautiful stitches.

 Here you can admire that in a bit more detail.

The Scottish Saltire

There was so much to see that it was virtually impossible to take it all it. After a bit your attention can't help but wane but hopefully this Great Tapestry will continue to travel around Scotland and maybe even further afield and this won't be my last visit to see it. A book is on the cards which will show each and every panel with the helpful information (written by Alistair Moffat) that accompanies each panel during the exhibition which gallops you through the intricacies of Scottish history and life. Just now there is a book available already that described the whole process of the making of the tapestry. 

If you're anywhere near or even if you're not, this is so worth a visit. You mustn't miss it!

Drochil Castle in the snow

The snow in our garden has turned to ice due to the overnight freezing temperatures and it was amazing to see the large icicles that had formed hanging from the guttering of the summer house. as well as the ice patterns on the windows.

 I loved the combination of all those patterns, specially seen as a through view using both windows. And I wasn't keen to venture forth till we spotted a snowplough approaching in the distance. John got our car out and we were ready and waiting in our driveway till it passed and I imperiously commanded: "Follow that snowplough"! Once we were out of our little lane we discovered that the main roads were in a pretty good state and had all been ploughed and grittted so we made our way to Peebles to get some chicken feed.

The sun was shining, the sky was blue and of course my camera was with me as it tends to be at all times. Fortunately John doesn't mind being told to stop for photography purposes and today we did a lot of stopping.

 Like yesterday the shadows were clear as a bell and added to the beauty of the landscape.

All the above pictures were taken on our way to Peebles and I had more or less decided to make the above one my daily photograph on Blipfoto but on the return journey I saw the great view of Drochil Castle.

This view cannot be seen during the summer as the trees in full leaf obscure it but today the remains of what once was an impressive stronghold were clearly visible and I just had to take a picture. You can only reach this Ancient Monument (it dates back to the 16th Century)  by going up a private drive (where you can stay at this B&B) and that's something I'm reluctant to do although hopefully I'll gather my courage and see if I can get to the building itself sometime in the future. Officially it's not open to the public and is apparently in a dangerous condition. For today this picture taken from the main road will do very well.

Roslin Castle and Graveyard

We went off today for a walk in Roslin Glen where the main attraction is the partly ruined Roslin Castle (sometimes also spelled Rosslyn as per the nearby Rosslyn Chapel)

The castle itself dates back to the 14th Century when it was build by Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney. Amazingly it's still in the hands of the same family, now belonging to the present Earl of Rosslyn who is a descendant of the Sinclair family. You approach the castle via a very high  bridge over the glen below, but it is also possible to walk beneath this and I have added John to the picture in order to show you the scale of the arch underneath the bridge. This gives you a good idea of just how tall the entire ruins are.

This is taken after going underneath the arch and turning right where you walk along one of the sides of the castle and it's clear to see that vegetation is slowly conquering the building.

 It's climbing ever higher turning the walls slowly green.

But amazingly if you look carefully you can see that the top windows belong to a habitable residence. This east top side was restored in the eighties and if you're so inclined you can rent it as a holiday home. I personally would be ever so slightly worried about resting on the ruins of past centuries. I've no idea if there is still access to the lower half and if so whether or not it's safe to enter and explore. It would be fascinating to get in there and see what remains of this castle's past glories.
However judging from the state of the windows in the lower half you would have to be prepared to fight your way through many cobwebs, vegetation and who knows what other horrors. Still I would be prepared to do so in order to see the interior.

On our way back out of the Glen we passed Roslin graveyard and as most of you will know by now I can't make my way past a graveyard without at least having a quick look.  There aren't many very old gravestones in Roslin and I promised myself to return one day by myself to investigate them further but in the meantime I spotted the above 19th Century angel. She too is in danger of disappearing under overhanging trees and ivy and that would be a shame as she is very lovely indeed. You can see her face in detail at the top of the post (also my blip for today).

This is one of the older gravestones (18th Century) with elaborate decorations as you can see, in the classical style. As ever my main interest was in the detail, such as seen below.

A Knight in the Cross Kirk

Today we were doing some chores in Peebles  and on the way home I persuaded John to pay another visit to the Cross Kirk just because I needed a blip. I've been before (check it out here) but it was his first visit and he was very impressed. The ruins are very substantial and not what you would expect to find just off the centre of the town.  The church was started in 1262 when a cross thought to belong to St. Nicholas was dug up (conveniently!) in the presence of the Scottish King Alexander III. In 1472 the church was converted into a monastery belonging to the order of the Trinitarian friars. This order was founded to seek freedom for Christians captured during the Crusades.

It ceased to be a monastery after the reformation but instead became the temporary parish church for Peebles after the existing church was burned down by the English in 1548. It was abandoned completely after a new parish church was build in 1656. It remained in use only as a burial aisle for Douglas Earls of March as well as the Earls of Morton and later for the Hays of Haystoun, a local family whose grave monument is in the neighbouring graveyard where I haven't ventured as yet as it also appears to be someone's garden.

Today the ruins are in the care of Historic Scotland and I suspect it doesn't get many legitimate visitors although there are many signs of vandalism such as beer bottles, crips packets etc. on view. 

When I was here last time I never spotted the knight set in above a doorway. If you look carefully you can see he has a saltire (flag of Scotland) medallion around his neck. I have been unable to discover who he might represent. He did however become my blip for today!

Craigmillar Castle

It was a very cold but yet again beautifully sunny day. Autumn has done its best to make up for our miserable summer. And I suggested a visit to Craigmillar Castle after reading about it in the Member's magazine of Historic Scotland that owns and runs the place. We're both members and although I definitely make it worth my while by visiting as many of their properties as I can manage, John doesn't go to quite as many. However he was game today and didn't regret it. 

Craigmillar is only a "league" away from the centre of Edinburgh, a league being the distance a person could walk in an hour, so about 3 miles. It started life as a simple late 14th century tower house, built by the Preston family of nearby Prestonpans. The tower was erected on a rocky high point and the rocks are still clearly visible in the grounds.

The walls of the old tower can be seen behind the newer outer walls and it's possible to get all the way to the top of it even now! If there are stairs I will always climb them, they are one temptation I simply can't resist!

The outer walls were added and much of the castle added to and rebuilt in 1660 when the Gilmour family took over the place and as a result the castle has become a maze of passages, re-purposed rooms and stairs.In the courtyard you get to by going through the above door there are 2 old and very large trees growing. 

And this is the shield above that door. The unicorn is a symbol of Scottish royalty  and Mary Queen of Scots visited this castle at least twice (verified by documents) but probably many more times. She came here in November 1566, suffering from depression, having given birth to her son James (the future James I of England and VI of Scotland) in the June of that year, only 3 months after witnessing the murder of her secretary by her husband Henry, Lord Darnley. The plot to kill Darnley was also decided by her supporters at Craigmillar Castle and became knows as the Craigmillar Bond. 

There are many heraldic arms to be seen on the walls of Craigmillar Castle. The above one belongs to the Preston family and features 3 unicorn heads held by 2 rampant lions.

As I mentioned above we climbed all the way up and were rewarded with stunning views in all directions. The above one is towards the river Forth and you can just about see the shores of Fife on the other side as well as some passing ships.

They were much admired by the "old mariner" (hope he won't read this bit!) who is staring out to sea here. He used to work for Forth Navigation Service and was in the Merchant Navy so ships are always of interest.

 I was much more taken with the views over towards Edinburgh Town itself, where you can clearly see "Arthur's Seat" and where the fact that Edinburgh is built on a now long extinct volcano is clearly visible.

This is the very top of the tower and I was struck with the resemblance of this roof to that of St. Mary's Aisle in Carnwath which we visited quite some time ago. 

And this is the great hall and the enormous fireplace. I can just about imagine Mary, Queen of Scots, drawing nearer to the flames during that November of 1566. If it was anything like this November the heat would be oh so welcome.I could have done with some warmth myself as my fingers were virtually frozen by the time we got back to the car. I can't use my camera with gloves and as it was continually in action in my hands I suffered for my art!

 The sun might have been out but the wind was whipping through the place!

There were once beautiful gardens around the castle, installed at the time of the Gilmours whose mausoleum is also in the grounds (I just can't get away from graveyards, it seems!). Above  you see the ground of one of the gardens where you can clearly see the rocks the castle was build on as well as the photographer there on the left! Only discovered that when I looked at this picture on my computer screen!

And of course I could not resist a chance to try out my latest favourite photographic technique, taking pictures into the light so that everything else becomes a silhousette. Quite like the above one but the one at the very top of this blog post was the favourite and will become my blip for today.