Fred’n’Sue’s Peregrinations

…… the subject is the light …..

Out of Edinburgh – 6 October

Another little “find” today – the village of Culross (Coo-ross) frozen in time – restored by the National Trust for Scotland to some semblance of its 16th century appearance. Culross was built on the coal mined from under the Firth of Forth, the salt production using the cheap source of energy, and as a trading port – the latter particularly after the conferral of the status of Royal Burgh – allowing for international trading. The smart businessman was one Sir George Bruce (a descendant of Robert the Bruce)

Someone tell me what this anchor was used for . .

The quite modest residence residence of Sir George – now conferred the title of Culross Palace

Admiral Cochrane – nope never heard of him either

Palace and gardens and the townhouse overlooking the Firth of Forth

And some of the interior . . .

Next stop – Dunfermline Abbey wherein is entombed part of Robert the Bruce – head and heart are buried elsewhere.

The tomb of Robert the Bruce – or is it King David I – son of St Margaret.

Margaret of Wessex who married (King) Malcolm III invited Benedictine monks from Canterbury to found a friary at Dunfermline.

Her son, David I was responsible for the construction of the larger abbey church with further development carried out by Robert the Bruce.

St Peter and St Paul on the ceiling of the abbey chrich

Some of what remains of the abbey proper

After a mis-timed visit to the Japanese Garden at Cowden we went to pay our respects to Baron and Duke, the work of sculptor Andy Scott, representations of the mythical kelpie spirits, but whose form is based on good honest Scottish draught horses Duke and Baron.