 On
the 31st March, the Edinburgh Silver Surfers and members of the
ACE IT Digital Photography Class had our first 'Surfers Day Oot'
of the Spring by way of a special guided tour of Lauriston
Castle.
The castle and gardens are situated near Davidson's Mains (Off
Cramond Road) and feature ample parking facilities alongside an
excellent range of picnic areas.
A castle in one form or another has existed on the site since
the late 16th century and for around a hundred years dating from
the mid 19th century the building was the private residence of
the Reid family. On the death of Mrs Margaret Reid, the last
surviving member of the family, the castle was gifted to the
City Of Edinburgh Council who maintain and look after the
property on behalf of the people of Edinburgh.
Under the Reid family the house could boast many firsts for
the area – including electricity and central heating and was
certainly ahead of its time in comfort and convenience. The
house is furnished by many original Edwardian pieces and also by
artefacts acquired during the owners travels abroad. The
furniture was often made specifically for the castle as at one
time the owners had their own furniture making business.
Throughout the year Lauriston Castle offers a wide selection
of events, lectures and creative workshops - Regular daily tours
of the castle are hosted from Saturday to Thursday (Closed
Friday) throughout the summer/ autumn. There is also a selection
of special weekend tours and events ranging from 'Spick and Span
for Spring', detailing the lives and work of the servants of
Lauriston Castle to 'Edwardian Christmas', where you can
experience what Christmas and New Year were like a century ago.
The Castle is well worth a visit for lovers of antiques - a
well-preserved view of living in days gone by – or a relaxing
stroll through the property's delightful gardens and grounds. We
thoroughly recommend the lecture and crafts programme too (See
below for details).
...All in all, our visit to the castle was a great success
and everyone had a fantastic day! |
