Doors Open Day

What a lovely day we've had exploring Doors Open in Midlothian. We narrowed our choice down to five visits but immediately cast aside the first in favour of spending more time on the rest. Despite the huge details we learned at each venue, forgive me for adding links to them but extra photos.



Main photo, and map location, destination Cousland Smithy; on arrival we were informed that the farrier was shoeing a horse so moved to the grass to watch, along with a selection of visitors including a couple of camera club members with long lenses - they were great fun to chat with.

This is Jenny, a Cobb x Clydesdale, over 20 years old and still ridden by her young owner. Sean the farrier and she are old friends, he normally sees her at her home but she was brought along to Cousland for the demonstration. This means that Sean is very considerate and gentle with her arthriticky joints. In the main photo he has just tested a hot new shoe on the hoof, burning off with that deliciously pungent smell. Extra photo 1 of her and of the old smithy (the wee dug is Jack, he belongs to Sean and is partial to a chunk of trimmed hoof).

 We followed the demonstration with a welcome coffee and home-made cake in the refreshment tent. The happy village atmosphere took me back to my home, where, as young children, we would watch the farrier as we passed the smithy on the way home from school.


Prior to that we had visited St Mary's, Dalkeith, the church of Dalkeith House, where we hoped to hear the famous Water Organ played - but we were too early, apparently, although a guide did demonstrate the system by turning on the tap which cleverly inflates the bellows. Unfortunately it did not actually work, so we hope this was attended to for the recital. Extra 2 is a view of the organ (and a little of the impressive hammer-beam roof) and a detail of the French rose window above.



Next we drove cross-country to see Soutra Aisle, discovering that it has been around 50 years since we were last there. The guide, Dr Brian Moffat, explained what was not there to see, rather than what was visible, as the aisle has its history in a large C12 Augustine monastery, of which nothing is left of its Melrose red sandstone except the position of features such as the drain, from which samples have been collected, giving insight into their cultivation. Fascination stuff, to which we paid close attention despite a howling wind trying to blow away the paperwork. Sadly though, the permanent information boards have been heavily vandalised and even the lock on the iron door has been attacked and jammed shut. One despairs of the attitude that considers such damage to be entertainment. Extra 3 is the view from the south east, not seen from the road, with distant Arthur's Seat just visible to the left.


Our last visit was to A-listed C15 Chrichton Collegiate Church, to hear the Brook Organ. This was installed in 1899 and refurbished in 2010-2012. By delightful co-incidence, the organist, Edward Cuthbert, used to play for our choir Christmas Carol concerts, while our choir director conducted, during our time at Central Hall and we had a nice chat before his recital. By another co-incidence, two members of our U3A Geology group were present but we had no time for a catch-up. Extra 4 shows Ed at the organ console and the east window, a Victorian representation of the Garden of Gethsemane.


Then it was time to head home, to make up bramble jelly - there is still the bramble-and-elderberry to do but time has caught up with me.