Friday 20 June 2014

VISIT TO EUROPE - UK - SCOTLAND - EDINBURGH - I










CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,

Secunderabad - 500 015.




          Since the Flight to Edinburgh from Gatwick Airport (London), was at 0700 h on 12 Oct 2013, we had to leave from our Home in Harrow (London), early in the morning and reached Gatwick at 0620 h, just in time to catch the Flight. We landed at Edinburgh by about 0815 h or so, hired a car outside the Airport and drove straight to Holyrood Palace



Scotland



          Scotland (/ˈskɒt.lənd/; Scots: [ˈskɔt.lənd]; Scottish Gaelic: Alba [ˈal̪ˠapə] ( listen)) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, Scotland shares a border with England to the south, and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean; with the North Sea to the east, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the south-west. In addition to the mainland, the country is made up of more than 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.



          Edinburgh, the country's capital and second-largest city, is one of Europe's largest financial centres.Edinburgh was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which transformed Scotland into one of the commercial, intellectual, and industrial powerhouses of Europe. Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, was once one of the world's leading industrial cities and now lies at the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union. This has given Aberdeen, the third-largest city in Scotland, the title of Europe's oil capital.



Edinburgh




          Edinburgh (Listeni/ˈɛdɪnbərə/; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) is the capital city of Scotland, situated in Lothian on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. It is the second most populous city in Scotland and the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom. The population in 2012 was 482,640.



          Edinburgh has been recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, but political power moved south to London after the Union of the Crowns in 1603 and the Union of Parliaments in 1707. After nearly three centuries of unitary government, a measure of self-government returned in the shape of the devolved Scottish Parliament, which officially opened in Edinburgh in 1999. The city is also home to many national institutions such as the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery. Edinburgh's relatively buoyant economy, traditionally centred on banking and insurance but now encompassing a wide range of businesses, makes it the biggest financial centre in the UK after London. Many Scottish companies have established their head offices in the city.





Holyrood Palace



       The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining. 



          Holyrood Abbey was founded by David I, King of Scots, in 1128, and the abbey's position close to Edinburgh Castle meant that it was often visited by Scotland's monarchs, who were lodged in the guest house situated to the west of the abbey cloister. James IV constructed a new palace adjacent to the abbey in the early 16th century, and James V made additions to the palace, including the present north-west tower. Holyrood Palace was re-constructed in its present form between 1671 and 1679 to the Baroque design of the architect Sir William Bruce, forming four wings around a central courtyard, with a west front linking the 16th-century north-west tower with a matching south-west tower. The Queen's Gallery was formed within the shell of the former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon's School built in the 1840s adjacent to the palace and opened to the public in 2002 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection. 



          Queen Elizabeth spends one week in residence at Holyrood Palace at the beginning of each summer, where she carries out a range of official engagements and ceremonies. The 16th century Historic Apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots and the State Apartments, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public throughout the year, except when members of the Royal Family are in residence.







The Main Entry Gate of the Holyrood Palace






The Visitors Outer Entry Gate to Holyrood Palace






A closer view of the Visitors outer Entry gate









A full view of Holyrood Palace taken from the Main 
Entrance Gate into the Compound






A view of the Palace taken from the Visitors Entry Gate






A view of Visitors Entry Gate from Outside






Another view of the palace from the Visitors Entry Gate side






Central Entrance into the Palace






A view of the side Entrance into the Palace







A side view of the Palace






Another side view of the palace



Octagonal Stone Fountain




          The Stone Fountain is located in the Front Courtyard of Holyrood Palace. Octagonal stone fountain, decorated with a lion sejant, top (facing W.) holding sword and sceptre in forepaws, seated on an orb. Below that is a large crown supported by columns against which stand four halberdiers (Blair, Montgomery, Campbell and Blackadder) wearing hats, ruffs and short 'knickerbockers'. Below the halberdiers (clockwise from NE. corner) are (1) Rizzio playing a flute; (2) Queen Margaret, crowned, looking up and holding a book; (3) John Cunningham, Town Drummer of Linlithgow, a drum at his left hip; (4) Lady Cramford with a hawk perched on her finger and a dog by her left side; (5) the Earl of Stair, a swordbehind him and a gun in his hands, the barrel of which rests on a long forked stick; (6) Queen Mary, holding a sceptre in her right hand; (7) Sir John Cope, wearing hat, ruff, elaborate breeches and cloak; (8) Arabella of France, holding a mask in her right hand and a glove in her left.



          Below each figure is an attached column. Between each of the capitals is a grotesque head with a metal tongue [water spout?]. 










Octagonal Stone Fountain in the Front Courtyard of Holyrood Palace






A closer view of the Stone Fountain


Holyrood Abbey




          Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded further. The abbey church was used as a parish church until the 17th century, and has been ruined since the 18th century. The remaining walls of the abbey lie adjacent to the palace, at the eastern end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The site of the abbey is protected as a scheduled monument.














Entrance to the old Abbey church in Ruins







Interior view of the Old Abbey church in Ruins






Another Interior view of the beautifully carved pillars






The Rear of the old Abbey Church, where once was the Pulpit






One of the partially Restored piller on the left of the Pulpit






A full view of the Abbey Church Ruins with Holyrood Palace on the Left






A view of the surviving portion of the old Abbey Church from outside



The Carlton Hill, Edinburgh


 



          Calton Hill (archaically spelt Caltoun or Caldoun and also known as "the Calton Hill"), is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, just to the east of Princes Street and is included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Views of, and from, the hill are often used in photographs and paintings of the city.



          Calton Hill is the headquarters of the Scottish Government, which is based at St Andrew's House, on the steep southern slope of the hill; with the Scottish Parliament Building, and other notable buildings, for example Holyrood Palace, lying near the foot of the hill. The hill also includes several iconic monuments and buildings: the National Monument, the Nelson Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument, the old Royal High School, the Robert Burns Monument, the Political Martyrs' Monument and the City Observatory.










A view of the Carlton Hill, taken from near the Princes Street



Scottish Parliament Building




          The Scottish Parliament Building (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, Scots: Scots Pairlament Biggin) is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Edinburgh. Construction of the building commenced in June 1999 and the Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) held their first debate in the new building on 7 September 2004. The formal opening by Queen Elizabeth took place on 9 October 2004. Enric Miralles, the Catalan architect who designed the building, died before its completion.














A view of Parliament Building, lying at the base of Carlton Hill




The Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh




          St Giles' Cathedral, more properly termed the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace. The church has been one of Edinburgh's religious focal points for approximately 900 years. The present church dates from the late 14th century, though it was extensively restored in the 19th century, and is protected as a category A listed building.[1] Today it is sometimes regarded as the "Mother Church of Presbyterianism". The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Giles, who is the patron saint of Edinburgh,[3] as well as of cripples and lepers, and was a very popular saint in the Middle Ages. It is the Church of Scotland parish church for part of Edinburgh's Old Town. The most recent Minister (since 1973) of St Giles' was the Very Reverend Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan; he retired on 30 September 2013.












A view of the Giles Cathedral






Another view of the Giles Cathedral






A close up of the Monument in front of Giles Cathedral



The Tron Church, Edinburgh




          The Tron Kirk is a former principal parish church in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a well-known landmark on the Royal Mile. It was built in the 17th century and closed as a church in 1952. Having stood empty for over fifty years, it was used briefly as a tourist information centre, but is now standing empty again and closed to the public.







A view of the Tron Church, from near the High Court






A closer view of Tron Church






A close up of the Tron Church






A view of the Carlton Hotel, a Heritage Building astride the Royal Mile



Scotland's people Centre





          Scotland's largest family history centre, the ScotlandsPeople Centre, is open in Edinburgh at the east end of Princes Street opposite the Balmoral Hotel.



          Researching your family history is a voyage of discovery, so follow in the footsteps of your ancestors on a visit to Scotland and explore the real story of your heritage. The country is home to a vast collection of local historical publications, maps and archives to help you uncover your Scottish roots, and you can use the clan search to find out more.













A view of Scotland's People Centre






A closer view of  the People Centre



The Clock Tower over Balmoral Hotel




          You can always tell the time wherever you are in Princes Street thanks to the huge clock tower of the former North British Railway Hotel at the eastern end of the street. The hotel was built in the heyday of Victorian railway development as part of Waverley Station, Edinburgh's mainline terminal with connections to Glasgow and the great cities of England. 



          The hotel was completed in 1902 to the proposals of W. Hamilton Beattie, who had won the design competition in 1895.









The Clock Tower over Balmoral Hotel






Another view of the Balmoral Hotel, a Heritage Building 



Scot Monument, Edinburgh



          The design competition for the Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens attracted 55 entrants in 1837. The eventual winner was George Meikle Kemp, who created a massive Victorian Gothic tower to surround the statue of Sir Walter Scott, crafted by John Steell. 

          Edinburgh born Scott was a popular author throughout the English speaking world, writing adventure novels such as "Ivanhoe" and "Rob Roy". Following his death in 1832, a sum of £6000 was raised to create a suitable monument in the city centre. 

          The landmark monument was completed in 1846, two years after its designer, George Kemp, had been found dead in the Union Canal.






A view of the Scot Monument






Another view of the Scot Monument



Scottish National Gallery




         The Scottish National Gallery is the national art gallery of Scotland. It is located on The Mound in central Edinburgh, in a neoclassical building designed by William Henry Playfair, and first opened to the public in 1859. The gallery houses the Scottish national collection of fine art, including Scottish and international art from the beginning of the Renaissance up to the start of the 20th century.











A view of the Scottish Galleries



The Mound (Loyyd’s Banking Group) – Edinburgh



          This landmark building has been a distinctive feature of the Edinburgh skyline for more than 200 years. 
It was built in 1806 as the Head Office of Bank of Scotland. Today it is also the registered office and Scottish Headquarters of Lloyds Banking Group.It has a fascinating history.












A view of the Mound ( Loyyd's Banking Group), Edinburgh
 taken from the National Galleries





A view of the Waverly Railway Station, with the Balmoral Hotel and 
the Carlton Hill in the Background, taken from the National Galleries



The School of Devinity, Edinburgh




          New College in Edinburgh University is one of the largest and most renowned centres for (post)graduate studies in Theology and Religious Studies in the UK, with approximately 150 students in M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degree programmes in any given year, and from over 30 countries. There are now nearly 30 full-time members of the academic staff, and they include internationally respected scholars in various specialities.



          New College originally opened its doors in 1846 as a college of the Free Church of Scotland, later of the United Free Church of Scotland, and from the 1930s has been the home of the School of Divinity (formerly the Faculty of Divinity) of the University of Edinburgh. As "New College" it continues the historic commitment to offer a programme of academic preparation for ministry in the Church of Scotland.









A view of the New College, School of Devinity, 
taken from the National Galleries






A close of of the School of Devinity Building






A Plaque at the Entrance of the School






The School Inner Entry, taken from the Entry Gate








Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia 

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