Doors Open Day

We planned our visits with care, using only public transport.
First: Morningside Parish Church and the wonderful East window by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, dated 1900, depicting the four apostles (L-R Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) (main photo). The church also boasts a Father Willis organ, which is regularly played. Wandering round we were so impressed by the amount of space and the particularly impressive St Andrew Room.  It was lovely to see an ex-colleague member there (she of high status, I the lowest).

Second: Merchiston Tower, now part of Napier University, who by coincidence were holding an open day for students. The C15 tower was built for the Napier family. John Napier, the inventor of logarithms, was born there in 1550. Two ceilings are of note, the C17 plaster ceiling on the first floor and the painted timber ceiling above (see Extra 1). This dates from the C16 and was originally in Prestongrange House, later the Royal Musselburgh Golf Clubhouse, discovered in 1962. However, deemed too risqué for club members, it was removed to Merchiston during restoration in 1964.

Third: Greenside Church, opened in 1839, still has the original pews and typical Presbyterian gallery. We we delighted to be shown round by a friend from the Clic Sargent choir, whom we have known for many years. The Stevenson (lighthouse building) family worshipped here and there is a wall plaque commemorating this. Extra 2 of one of the windows, featuring (L-R) apostles Mark, Matthew and Luke.

Fourth: South Leith Parish Church, built in 1847 on the site of a chapel dedicated to St Mary of 1483, attached to the collegiate Church of Restalrig. There are two galleries, at opposite ends of the church, remaining from the division of the nave for the various guilds. The church has Royal connections through Mary of Guise and her daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, whose Royal Arms adorn the porch, those for Mary's son James the VI and I and Charles I adorn the tower, below the clock faces. There is a map of the 1560 Seige of Leith, which was found among title deeds of Petworth House in Sussex. Extra 3 shows the unique hammer-beam roof.

From here we stopped for a much-needed restorative lunch at the Old Spence Café before proceeding to the

Fifth: Edinburgh Open Workshop, an open-access makerspace "a co-working facility built on a pay-as-you-go model – offering membership-based access to a fully equipped wood, metal, paint, and textiles workshop, with long term resident maker space, art studios, and a creative learning program of classes and workshops to help you gain the confidence to ‘Make it Yourself’"
 We met  Kirsty, one of the makers, who explained how the workshop operated and the impressive range of equipment - massive tools, often rented but, as the manufacturer has no premises for demonstration, the workshop provides this on their behalf. Our fingers were twitching with enthusiasm, the standard of work is awe-inspiring. No extra as I didn't take photos here.

So it was back on the tram to Princes street and bus home. Tomorrow (after church) we hope to be gallivanting to see more Doors Open.