The
VILLAGERS
JUNE 2011
Price
40p
The Voi c e of B a l qu h i d d er, L o ch e arn h e ad, Str at hy re & St Fi l l ans
Prestigious Palace Project
Well Worth the Visit! Thanks to Matthew Shelley of Historic Scotland, my cousin and I were able to visit the nearly completed Palace Project at Stirling Castle two weeks before the official opening. Donning hard hats and luminous waistcoats, for safety reasons, of course, we were taken through the royal apartments of King James V and his Queen, Mary of Guise. After two years’ hard work by architects, stonemasons, weavers, embroiderers, the wood carver and many other specialists, the rooms have been furnished according to the researches by the historians. Now you can walk through the apartments and really sense the Royal atmosphere of the 16th Century, surrounded by reproductions of the wall hangings, paintings, ornaments and furniture. We were very impressed by the quality of the work and the dedication to detail which brought the whole concept together. The rich variety of fabrics and techniques used in that time have been brought back to life and this has enriched the work of today’s craftsmen and women.
The set of seven tapestries ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’ is not yet complete. Five were in place and the sixth is almost finished. We watched the weavers at their arduous work and marvelled at the intricacy of the designs. The original tapestries are housed in the Cloisters Museum at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is now, with the completion of this project, the opportunity for people of all ages to learn and appreciate a little of the past history of the Royals in Stirling Castle. We also enjoyed visiting the exhibitions down in the vaults which are very handson and aimed at children but which will undoubtedly give adults too a great deal of pleasure. Marguerite Kobs Marion Eifinger (An expert in conservation of murals and stone objects)
The grand opening weekend on 4/5 June will be a sumptuous affair and an exciting experience for all the family. Further information can be found on the website: www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk Photos courtesy of Historic Scotland