Standing on the train station about to walk up the stairs to...
A new adventure, an amazing opportunity, new ideas, new people, new museums and a new road to walk along.
Based at City Art Centre, right at the top - overlooking Waverley train station and beyond, I can hardly believe my luck. Lots of hard work ahead but fulfilling and fun, I am sure.
So far I have visited; Museum of Edinburgh, The People's Story Museum, City Art Centre and The Writers' Museum.
Let me introduce you to 'The Writers' Museum'.
An exceptional building tucked away behind the Royal Mile in Lady Stair's Close.
The house was built in 1622 by Sir William Gray of Pittendrum and has had many owners since. The house and close are named after, Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Stair - her home in the early 18th Century. Can you imagine actually living in this amazing house -category 'A' listed and one of the oldest in the Old Town?
Avoiding demolition in a house clearance scheme (1895), the 5th Earl of Rosebery renovated the house -in 1907, he gifted the house to the City of Edinburgh for use as a museum. It was opened, as 'Lady Stair's House Museum' (1913) and over the next few decades it became home to the Scott and Burns collections joined by the Stevenson collection in the 1960s - renamed 'The Writers' Museum' in 1993.
The Writers' Museum, (please see link: www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum), in their words, 'Celebrates the lives of three giants of Scottish Literature - Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.'
The Writers' Museum, (please see link: www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum), in their words, 'Celebrates the lives of three giants of Scottish Literature - Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.'
The collections are interesting and varied, with dedicated rooms for each writer. Down the narrow, spiral staircase from the front door is the Stevenson collection. There are many photographs depicting Stevenson's many adventures and personal items displayed. I liked the ring, given to Stevenson by one of the Samoan chiefs - it was engraved with the word; Tusitala -this means teller of tales.
Heading back up (more spiral staircase) you arrive at the shop, well stocked with books, quills and of course, Harry Potter merchandise! You can either go to the Scott collection (there is a display cabinet about the Scott Monument here) or Burns.
Scott's collection has lots of personal items and portraits, his slippers,printing press and childhood rocking horse to name a few! The Burns collection again has a wealth of portraits and sculptures. It was great to be able to see his writing desk.
Favourite piece in the museum:
Sir Walter Scott's childhood rocking horse, complete with wonky footrests.
The footrests were adapted due to Scott's lame right leg - lame because as a child he suffered with polio.
Least favourite piece:
The plaster cast of Robert Burns' skull (one of only three made). Not my cup of tea!!
