Doors Open Day 2019

Unlike our usual Doors Open Days, we visited only two places but both were pre-booked. Main photo is Fountainbridge Library entrance from the top floor, showing the art deco symmetry and cantilever stair. The library replaced an earlier building and was designed to allow maximum natural light. This library has a secret in the basement, accessed by a select few people - a library of books on beekeeping, donated by John Moir, whose vast collection grew too large for his home. The rarest books are kept in the National Library of Scotland.

The extra was taken in the Barnton Quarry Cold War Bunker, currently under restoration, of an air vent and trunking in an unrestored area, showing the effect of a vandalism fire so severe that it resulted in the collapse of one floor. Barnton Quarry was the Scottish Control Centre for three zones of Regional Seats of Government, set up to take control in the event of a nuclear attack. So secret was the Centre that even local residents were totally unaware of its presence. I have given the location of this on the map, rather than the library.