Not bad for £110,000!

This is St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Barbara and Mary Walker left the whole of their property to the Episcopal Church in Scotland, thus enabling the building of a Cathedral which was to be dedicated to St Mary the Virgin.

An architectural competition was arranged. Amid not a little controversy, including accusations of plagiarism and favouritism from six competing designs, that of Sir George Gilbert Scott was chosen. Scott was also the architect of the cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand - which sadly is about to be demolished down to almost ground level. The foundation stone was laid on 21st May 1874 by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, and the building consecrated on 30th October 1879. The cost was £110,000.

Oh, and forgot the answer to Saturday's quiz. Peter Ranscombe is on the right of the photograph. He is business correspondent for the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday, as well as being a regular contributor to wildlife magazines!

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