Hello! And welcome back to Mugdock Castle! This is the second to last post about Mugdock Castle and what an adventure it has been. I hope you are excited for this week's look at the Georgian Summer House and Walled Garden. To start this week, let's take a look at the sign describing a bit about this part of the castle estate:
"The Walled Garden was built in 1820 and constructed on two levels that spanned the original castle site and Mugdock Lock. The upper garden level was used to grow garden produce for the castle's residence. The lower level was used for recreational interests of the family. These interests extended up to the loch where a timber jetty provided access for boating and fishing. The walled garden became derelict during the second half of the 20th century along with the rest of the site. In 2001 a team of craftsman and volunteers painstakingly rebuilt every wall over a three year period returning this site to its former glory."
"The Walled Garden was built in 1820 and constructed on two levels that spanned the original castle site and Mugdock Lock. The upper garden level was used to grow garden produce for the castle's residence. The lower level was used for recreational interests of the family. These interests extended up to the loch where a timber jetty provided access for boating and fishing. The walled garden became derelict during the second half of the 20th century along with the rest of the site. In 2001 a team of craftsman and volunteers painstakingly rebuilt every wall over a three year period returning this site to its former glory."
They rebuilt EVERY wall! That's dedication to history in my opinion - and now we get to enjoy all of their hard work. Looking at the walled garden from above, I can just see it in it's former glory, with rows and rows of veggies planted and growing on the top level and a game of badminton (invented in 1873, England) or croquet (invented in 1851 in Ireland) going on on the lower field.
Shall we go down and take a closer look?
Shall we go down and take a closer look?
Ah ha! Here now is the Georgian Summer House, originally built for the last Graham residents, three unmarried sisters in the 1820's and restored in 2002. This would have been used as a place to keep cool in the summertime. It would have remained around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit (similar to caves) as it was made entirely of stone with one side built against the ground.
I can just imagine having tea parties in the summer house! Shall we go in for a spot?
I can just imagine having tea parties in the summer house! Shall we go in for a spot?
Oh - wait! Take a look above the window. That looks like it might be the the Mugdock crest!
Oooo... and look INSIDE the window - can you see the ferns growing on the ceiling? Very cool!
I'm sure the walls, ceiling, and floors were scrubbed clean on a regular basis in the 1800's, but I think it's neat to see how nature moves in. :)
Okay - let's check out the inside!
Oooo... and look INSIDE the window - can you see the ferns growing on the ceiling? Very cool!
I'm sure the walls, ceiling, and floors were scrubbed clean on a regular basis in the 1800's, but I think it's neat to see how nature moves in. :)
Okay - let's check out the inside!
Alas, as it is a cavelike space, none of the pictures I took OF the inside would come out.
However, we can look out from the inside and imagine what it might have been like to rest in here during the summer. It was definitely MUCH cooler inside and with windows and a door set in the stone and closed, it would have been a perfect place to cool down in the heat.
However, we can look out from the inside and imagine what it might have been like to rest in here during the summer. It was definitely MUCH cooler inside and with windows and a door set in the stone and closed, it would have been a perfect place to cool down in the heat.
Well, I hope you've enjoyed our visit of the Walled Garden and Georgian Summer House of Mugdock Castle. Next week (the last week of our Mugdock Tour!) we'll take a look at some of the oldest stone work.
Blessings on your Journey,
Pastor Emilia
Blessings on your Journey,
Pastor Emilia
RSS Feed