St Cuthbert's Church, Dalmeny

After church we put in three more Doors Open Day visits. First to see the  last remaining Ingram cinema organ, now located in the Astoria Centre, Corstorphine.  Built in the late 1920's, it was removed from the Astoria Cinema in the mid 1970's and broken up, various parts dispersed. Due to be completed in the summer, it is hoped to be playable into the new year.

Next we saw the Priory Church of St Mary of Mount Carmel once the church for a Carmelite Order founded in 1330 on land granted by the Dundas family. The present building dates from the C15, of which only the choir, south transept and tower remain. There are colourful stained glass windows dedicated to the Dundas family.

We then visited St Cuthbert's Church, Dalmeny (main photo), described as 'a gem of Romanesque architecture and the most complete in Scotland'. Built around 1160, it survived the Reformation (as the destructive forces by-passed the village) and thus retains most original features such as the highly decorated arches between nave, chancel and apse. There a numerous masons' marks, which are duplicated in such buildings as Dunfermline Abbey and Leuchars in Fife, indicating high quality workmanship. On the exterior the south doorway is decorated with two ranks of intricately carved stones, many from the bestiary - 13 inner and, alternating with masks, nine in the outer rank. This a stunning church and deserves its category A listing.

It must be said that at all the places we have visited through the Doors Open Scheme this year we have been met with friendly, informative guides whose enthusiasm for their building shines through, making the experience all the more enjoyable.