Other Stuff
GOOD THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN DUNFERMLINE
ABBOT HOUSE HERITAGE CENTRE, MAYGATE
A stunningly beautiful old house - the oldest in Dunfermline - with a small but perfectly formed scented garden (are all gardens not scented... surely?). Inside, the story of how Dunfermline came to be is told by a resident ghost, not that I would wish to scare you. The ghost is on the telly, or audio-visual presentation, so it's not like it's wandering silently through the house waiting on a good opportunity to leap out and scream. No, none of that. It does in fact deliver tales of the old house in a programme called, The Spirit in the Stones, which is a more than interesting insight into the building's past. It turns out that when they dug up the garden a number of skeletons were uncovered. Hmm. So, while you've got one eye on the telly, keep your other eye on the walls... you never know what's going to slowly emerge...woooowaaaghhhhhh!
A stunningly beautiful old house - the oldest in Dunfermline - with a small but perfectly formed scented garden (are all gardens not scented... surely?). Inside, the story of how Dunfermline came to be is told by a resident ghost, not that I would wish to scare you. The ghost is on the telly, or audio-visual presentation, so it's not like it's wandering silently through the house waiting on a good opportunity to leap out and scream. No, none of that. It does in fact deliver tales of the old house in a programme called, The Spirit in the Stones, which is a more than interesting insight into the building's past. It turns out that when they dug up the garden a number of skeletons were uncovered. Hmm. So, while you've got one eye on the telly, keep your other eye on the walls... you never know what's going to slowly emerge...woooowaaaghhhhhh!
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY, ST MARGARET STREET
A well preserved 12th century structure within whose sturdy grey walls many Scottish kings and queens lie buried. Beneath the ground are the remains of Kings Malcolm III and Malcolm IV, King Edgar, King Alexander, King David and, of course, King Robert I, or Robert the Bruce. All abbeys have played a key role in their country's past, and most have a sprinkling of important people buried inside. But it is not difficult to see that Dunfermline Abbey has more than its fair share of royalty, and as such lies at the very heart of Scotland's past. And speaking of hearts, not all of Robert is interred here. His heart was taken on a crusade by James Douglas and later returned to this country and buried in Melrose Abbey. [Check out Historic Scotland's page in this LINK]
A well preserved 12th century structure within whose sturdy grey walls many Scottish kings and queens lie buried. Beneath the ground are the remains of Kings Malcolm III and Malcolm IV, King Edgar, King Alexander, King David and, of course, King Robert I, or Robert the Bruce. All abbeys have played a key role in their country's past, and most have a sprinkling of important people buried inside. But it is not difficult to see that Dunfermline Abbey has more than its fair share of royalty, and as such lies at the very heart of Scotland's past. And speaking of hearts, not all of Robert is interred here. His heart was taken on a crusade by James Douglas and later returned to this country and buried in Melrose Abbey. [Check out Historic Scotland's page in this LINK]
ST MARGARET'S CAVE, CHALMERS STREET CAR PARK
Otherwise known as The Car Park Experience. This fascinating cave is apparently where St Margaret used to pray way back in the 11th century. It once sat on the banks of the Tower Burn, but is now some 87 steps below the car park. It's only open in summer, and unfortunately I didn't manage to see it during my visit, but it's definitely worth checking out.
Otherwise known as The Car Park Experience. This fascinating cave is apparently where St Margaret used to pray way back in the 11th century. It once sat on the banks of the Tower Burn, but is now some 87 steps below the car park. It's only open in summer, and unfortunately I didn't manage to see it during my visit, but it's definitely worth checking out.
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