Cherie's Place » Historic Scotland

Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week

CherryPie — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 20:34:16 +0000

One thing arises from all things, and all things arise from one thing.

Heraclitus, Fragment 10

Footnote – A short passageway near the entrance of Melrose Abbey features this ceiling boss ‘The carved Head of Christ’.

The Presbytery Ceiling

CherryPie — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 20:32:53 +0000

An intricate pattern of ribs and bosses adorns the vaulted ceiling of the presbytery. The central boss positioned directly above the high alter is a representation of the Holy Trinity attended by two angels. To the west is St Andrew holding the cross and reading clockwise are St Bartholomew holding the flaying knife, St Peter with the keys, St Thomas with the spear, St James the Less grasping the bludgeon, St James the Greater holding his staff and a scrip or costrel, St Paul with a sword, and St Matthias with an axe. To the south of St Andrew is a saint holding a book. Another boss has an angel and other bosses are carved with roses and leaves.*

*From the Historic Scotland guidebook to Melrose Abbey.

Melrose Abbey

CherryPie — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 21:31:37 +0000

Melrose Abbey, in the heart of the beautiful Scottish Border country, was founded in the twelfth century by the Cistercian order of monks. They were drawn to this fertile spot beside the River Tweed through its intimate associations with the holy men St Aidan and St Cuthbert. The Abbey grew to be one of the most wealthiest and most majestic medieval monasteries of Scotland, and its abbey church is one of the finest expressions of the order’s ‘architecture of solitude’.*

*From the Historic Scotland guidebook to Melrose Abbey

Kelso Abbey

CherryPie — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:23:25 +0000

Kelso Abbey was built in 1128 by the Tironesian monks (originally from Tiron, near Chartres, in France). During the 1540s it fell into decline at the hands of Henry VIII’s army.

Edinburgh Views

CherryPie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:19:43 +0000

It seems that normal service has resumed at least for a while with my internet connection. So now I can share with you the impressive views that can be seen from Edinburgh Castle:

A larger version of the last picture can be viewed here.

Edinburgh Castle

CherryPie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:57:48 +0000

It had been a long time since I last visited Edinburgh Castle so during my stay in Northumberland I ventured across the border to see how it had changed since my last visit. I mostly managed to miss the rain. It only rained for 20 minutes in Edinburgh, but back across the border in England it rained all morning.

I enjoyed seeing the castle again, although I was not so keen on queuing for 40 minutes to get tickets! But then I did get in free due to my English Heritage membership, so I can’t complain too much.