As half the nation snuggles down on a Sunday night to watch Downton Abbey, most won’t realise that there is a chance to see exactly what life was like in 1926 right here in Edinburgh.
A trip to Lauriston Castle in Cramond has been on my “to do” list for quite a while so, on a lovely autumnal Saturday, my husband and I decided to attend the 2pm daily tour.
Without being too pedantic I’d say that Lauriston Castle is really a very big house rather than a castle but it is set in fabulous Playfair-designed grounds which were being enjoyed by several dog owners and others taking in a bit of fresh air. It also has very tall chimneys visible from quite far away, which is handy if you go whizzing down the wrong road as we did. Originally built as a tower in the 16th century the main part of the house was added a couple of hundred years later. As I looked at some of the stonecrafted design inside, Calum admired the pointing on the brickwork.
There doesn’t seem to have been any family loyalty to Lauriston as it regularly changed hands. A couple called Reid bought it in 1902 and when Mrs Reid died in 1926 she bequeathed it to the nation for the “education and entertainment of the masses” and it is pretty much exactly as she left it then. Edinburgh Museums have done a marvellous job preserving it. Mr Reid was a maker and collector of furniture, so there are some lovely pieces around the house, including the largest collection of Blue John marble in the UK.
Our guide was knowledgeable about the house contents and the life a post-Edwardian couple would have led here. In the drawing room is a glorious chandelier and a pair of Chippendale chairs, but what really had Calum and me gasping were the incredible views from the large windows. Beyond the croquet lawn and Italian garden is an uninterrupted view of the Forth and Fife.
While the tour is a great insight to how we used to live (at least those of us who could afford a large house) there are lots of lectures and events on throughout the year of interest to both adults and children.
Adults £5, children under 16 £3, concessions £3; for details on tours and events, tel: 0131-336 2060 or visit {www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk|www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk|www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk}