Friday 2 September 2011

Garden by the Loch


Looking south east from Holyrood Park over Duddingston Loch and Duddingston village,on the left corner of the loch.The loch is within the boundary of the park and is a designated bird santuary and nature reserve.Otters have recently been spotted here for the first time in 100 years.


These photos are best viewed full screen.




In the 18th century a large hoard of Bronze Age artifacts,including bronze swords and spear heads dating from around 2000 BC, were dredged from the bottom of the loch. Evidence of crannogs,prehistoric stilt dwellings,has also been found here.



Duddingston Kirk is a fine example of Scoto-Norman architecture.The church was built around 1124 by a Norman knight named Dodin,on lands given to him for a settlement by King David I of Scotland. After the Norman conquest in 1066 David's father Malcolm III had offered land to Norman knights in return for their allegiance to the Scottish throne,a practice which appears to have been continued by his son.

                A girl piper leads a wedding party to the garden by the loch for a bridal photo session.



Dr Neil's garden,was begun in 1963 by Drs Andrew and Nancy Neil who had a medical practice close to the village. It was created on rocky ground between the church and the loch,on what has been described as the church rubbish dump.




Monkey puzzle tree


This sundial base appears to have been constructed with ecclesiastical "rubbish".


Seat with a view


A quiet corner


Looking towards Crow Hill. Ridges left by agricultural terracing can be seen on the hill above the trees.These were probably used from prehistoric times until the 17th century.




Outside the garden,the church field,the tower,loch and Pentland Hills in the distance.


Designed by the architect William Playfair in 1825,this octagonal two storey building on the loch side,known as Thomson's Tower,was built to store curling equipment. In these days the loch regularly froze over in winter. Nowadays only a thin ice covering is formed, barely enough to support wildfowl,and only in very cold winters.The building became known as Thomsons Tower after the Rev John Thomson who was minister at  Duddingston Kirk from 1805-1840. The minister was a notable landscape painter and used the upper floor of the tower as a studio,the curling equipment was stored below.


16 comments:

Virginia said...

Oh what a gorgeous series you have brought us today! Absolutely beautiful. I think it a perfect spot of a wedding!
V

biebkriebels said...

What a beautiful place this is to visit. The garden looks splendid and to have a wedding there must be marvellous.

Pet said...

As beautiful as your paintings. Thanks.

sarah said...

Hi Ruby,
The atmosphere of Duddingston kirk is great. Those spires are sharp clearly. I didn't know that it's called Scot-Norman architecture. It makes me feel I'd like to enter the kirk and sit on a chair.
The shape of Monkey puzzle tree is interestring. It really seems that a monkey puzzle to climb up.
Thank you for beautiful greens and blue of scottish lochs as usual.
Have a lovely weekend!
Sarah

stardust said...

I saw all the photos full screen and think how wonderful it would be when I am a part of the scenery and the nature you present. I’d like to go... but unfortunately circumstances don’t permit, so I’m enjoying the best thing next to going in person....thank you, Ruby.

I’m so attracted by the Scoto-Norman architecture style - there is something distinctly and uniquely Scottish. The existence of otter and the found civilization of 2000 B.C. at the loch, the moss covered sundial base (which looks like a bit Japanese), the marvelous garden, happy wedding at the church, the beauty of the blue of the loch and the green of the nature, etc., everything is just wonderful.

Wish you a restful weekend.
Yoko

Travel France Online said...

Lovely photos and interesting texts, all what I like!
I really enjoy discovering about regions I don't know (yet!) and Scotland is one of those...one day I'll visit!
Will keep an eye on your blog!
Greetings :)

Lynne with an e said...

Such a gorgeous area to explore. So rich in natural beauty, yet well maintained by human hands. I got a chuckle from your description of the sundial base as being made from "ecclesiastical rubbish."

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

The Scoto-Norman architecture at Duddingston Kirk is exquisite, and I can imagine the perfect setting for a wedding. The rich greens of the hills are beautifully paired with those gardens and blooms. I love the sundial!

Bises,
Genie

snowwhite said...

Hello, Ruby
Long time no see. Now, I enjoy cool night in Nara, but still it is very humid. Only one silver lining about too much humidity is to keep our skin smooth.

These sceneries remind me of a Japanese garden in strolling around the pond style. I love to find some similarity in different culture. Always trees and water are essential elements which sooth our soul and give peaceful mind. In your first photo, I can see gentle breeze blowing over the loch.
It is first time for me to see a monkey puzzling tree. I’m puzzled too. Oh, I like this unique shaped tree! It makes a strong accent in the garden, doesn’t it?

Beautiful long history and unique culture of your country!

(I associated loch with Loch Ness.
When I was a little girl, I believed the monster.)

Best wishes,
Keiko

cosmos said...

Hi Ruby,
I'm interested what is inside of the church like.The place is popular for a wedding ceremony? That perfect surrounding sure makes the ceremony memorable all the more. Otters are supposed to have become extinct here. How they were surprised to find one for the first time in 100 years!

Thank you for a beautiful tour this time again, Ruby.

Why this blog? said...

stunning images, so lovely

Pet said...

Thanks for your comment. I'm sorry to have disturbed your beautiful world with economic paradoxes. And you are absolutely right, scholars are all explanations, no solutions. Just the beauty of theorizing, the cleanness of pure thought!
Isn't it funny if it weren't true?: The ones that come with the "solutions" are the politicians :-)

Karen Xavier said...

What a privilege to live in a place like this, bountiful nature and beautiful scenery all over. Love that grey church... didn't you go inside? How does it look inside, pretty magnificent I bet. It is such a pretty picture...

Anonymous said...

Goodmorning Ruby,

Back again after a long time travelling in the south of France.
Thanks for your comments anyway and what iam seeing here is gorgeous, fine photographs and an eye for detail and compositions, I enjoy the landscapes and buildings like the old church, great!


have a nice weekend

Henk

Forest Dream Weaver said...

The church interior is not nearly as interesting as the exterior.It has been "modernized" over the years and little remains of the original interior.

Thank you for your comments.
Have a good weekend,
Ruby

Juan Antonio Torron Castro said...

Interesante lugar, con mucha vegetación.

Saludos.

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