Monday, September 28, 2009

Question from Marilyn R. - Info requests from Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse

I shall be going to Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse shortly. Has anybody any questions they would like me to ask, if there is an opportunity?

3 comments:

Kathy said...

This isn't exactly a question, Marilyn R., but I was watching a program on The History Channel a short while ago. I can't remember the exact title of it, but it was something about the most interesting or most haunted castles in Britain.

Anyway, they listed Edinburgh Castle and showed a reinactment/diarama in the castle history of two craftsman repairing the crown jewels. The two craftsman were dead ringers of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I've wondered ever since if that were true....

Lara said...

Haha! I remember seeing those when I was there in 2000 - wax figures I think. I want to say they were in red coats that kind of had a Sgt. Pepper look going too. I looked in my guidebook on the Scottish crown jewels, but no luck.

Marilyn R said...

Kathy,

Your post came up while I was away so I didn't make a mental note and can't say that I noticed the facial features, although I did think the story of the Scottish Crown Jewels was very well presented.

I was very struck by how small the Royal apartments in the castle are, especially the room in which Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son. The castle is very big perched atop a volcanic sill and it was so windy last Saturday they were thinking of closing it for part of the day. What a difference Mary must have found when she returned to Scotland after being brought up at the luxurious French Court.

Likewise with Holyroodhouse. Her apartments are very small with low ceilings and thick walls, but full of character. I was surprised to find a portrait of Mary Boleyn there but there was no explanation either in the guidebook or on the audioguide and the attendant disappeared before I could get to her.