The Palace of Holyrood-House, Edinburgh, Scotland
Guess what? It's a rainy day here....pouring actually.
But we had made plans for today keeping the rain in mind.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse or Holyrood Palace is at the bottom end of the Royal Mile. A quick look a few days ago to see where it was and now we are going in.
Below is the entrance to the Palace. Across the street is the Scottish Parliament and beside the Palace is the beginning of the Holyrood Park, namely Arthur's Seat.
"We hear you calling.....but we can't climb you until the rain and wind gusts settle down!"
Arthur's Seat a spectacular view from the front of the Palace.
Looking back at the entrance into the Palace grounds. It looks like a fairy tale with towers and gates. Very medieval. To get to the Palace you must go through this passageway. Within these walls below, there is a cafe, a souvenir shop with everything Royal, and the Queens Gallery which is an exhibit of the Queens Art Collection. We saw it in London when it was there.
This fellow looks a wee bit intimidating but he was rather a nice guy. I asked if I could take a picture of him as I love the "Hunting Stewart" tartan they wear while working at the Palace.
At the entrance you can see the two guard houses lying on their sides. No guards when the Queen isn't in. We have it all to ourselves!!
I'm ringing the door bell anyways to see if she has time for tea?
Seriously, there is a doorbell?
The site of this palace was, at first, founded as a monastery in 1128. It is the official residence of the Queen when she is in Scotland.
But you might know it better as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots from 1561-1567.
In 1501 James IV cleared the land around the monastery to build the castle. He was married to Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII.
No photos are allowed in the Palace but a bit further down there are awesome photos of the monastery now referred to as Holyrood Abbey. This is the courtyard when we first enter the palace. Look at how green everything is?
The Holyrood Abbey. It is in ruins but there is a beautiful to this place. No roof but stone structures that take your breath away. With this is mind, I have many photos of it as I couldn't decide which I liked the most, so just enjoy them.
From about the 15th century to the 17th century the abbey church was used as a parish church. It has been in ruins since the 18th century.
"A 'scheduled monument' is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change."
This is why this abbey still stands and is not demolished.
You can see here that the abbey is actually physically attached to the Palace.
The Holyrood Abbey has so much history. From 1256-1410, off and on, the Parliament of Scotland met here. Robert the Bruce held office here in 1326.
Since it was so close to the Edinburgh Castle it was visited often by Scottish Kings.
James II was crowned here in 1437.
A section of roof still exists. I was actually a wee bit nervous standing under it??
But the blog must go on......get the photo!
This picture is taken of a MacDonald ancestor that might be related to my beautiful niece Kristen???
This is for her.
A tomb marker is located with the abbey walls.
In the year 1687, the Protestant congregation of this abbey was moved to the new "Kirk of the Canongate" (where we are going to attend church service this Sunday), and the abbey was converted into a Roman Catholic Chapel Royal and the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle.
Unfortunately, a few years later, during religious and political upheaval, a mob broke in and destroyed the abbey and desecrating the royal tombs.
By the year 1768 the roof had collapsed during a storm leaving the abbey as it is today.
The Queen usually visits at the end of June early July and begins with receiving the keys to the Palace from the Officials of Edinburgh. At that time there is bagpipe bands and The Changing of the Guards. She and Prince Phillip also hold a Garden Party to recognized Scottish residents achievements called The Investiture. Approximately 8000 guest are in attendance.
I gotta get me a ticket for that !
Below is Zara Phillips, granddaughter of the Queen, and daughter of Princess Anne, with her husband, Michael Tindell, who were married at the Cannongate Kirk and held a reception at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, most likely in the gardens behind the Palace. The official wedding photos were taken within the abbey. They are standing right at one of the last pillars standing.
Mary Queen of Scots had a very tragic and turbulent life here at the Palace. She married two of her husbands here. Her chambers in one of the towers was also the setting for a horrific murder of her Private Secretary right in front of her. Supposedly her husband, Lord Darnley was jealous of him and the amount of time he spent with Mary.
This tower is one of the oldest parts of the Palace.
Still raining when we are leaving but we can see little dots on the hill beyond these gates from the Palace. Diehards who climbed Arthur's Seat no matter the weather.
We are still waiting on a sun day...so as not to be rescued by helicopter....lol.
Randoms photos along the Royal Mile as we look for a restaurant for lunch.
A neat sign.
Our primary schools don't look like this? A majestic, ancient building now used as a school.
A beautiful brooch I purchased at St. Giles' Cathedral. It is called a Heathergem.
There is a painstaking procedure to making this type of gem.
First they collect natural heather stems from the fields of the Highlands of Scotland. Cut and cleaned. it is then dyed different colours, green, red, mauve, etc. It is then compressed into a block. The block is then cut and the pieces are shaped, sanded and lacquered.
The result is what you see below. Gorgeous stones. No two stones will be the same because of the process.
They are set, usually in sterling silver, and decorated with traditional Celtic designs, such as the Celtic knot, Scottish thistle and Celtic cross.
They are symbolic of eternity: if you look at the traditional Celtic knot you will see that it doesn't have a beginning or an end.
My piece below is a Celtic Brooch surrounded by a knot design. I wear it on my scarves or coat, as well as a draped coat I bought.
I love it!
Distinguished tweed hat....I think would look fantastic on my two grown sons.
Here we are at "World's End." Lunch for two...pork sandwiches and salad and a wee bit of fries.
Named aptly because in the 16th century Edinburgh was a walled city. The gates to the city were situated outside of this pub site. As far as the people of Edinburgh were concerned, the world outside these gates were no longer theirs. Thus "World's End."
Our view at lunch....we have been so lucky to get these great tables. We can watch the comings and goings on the Royal Mile. I swear that I saw Paul McCartney walk through the Intersection as we ate lunch. By the time I got my camera ready he was gone? I would have chased him....but did I want to spend time in jail....aw no.
You might just have to take my word for it.
Another fantastic day coming to a close....even when the rain is coming down you can still have fun in Edinburgh.....so much to do...so little time.
I hope the suns out tomorrow.....I feel the need to climb????
No comments:
Post a Comment