Area Programmes

Penicuik House and its immediate surroundings are now in the ownership of the Penicuik House Preservation Trust, and work has been ongoing on site for over a year to consolidate this magnificent ruin and improve access to the surrounding estate. 2009 saw the completion of the first phase of the restoration work to the house and the opening of a purpose built, on site training facility. 

Penicuik House is the finest and most influential example of Palladian architecture in Scotland. It sits at the centre of an important 18C  designed landscape, which together form an exceptional physical record of the artistic patronage of the Clerk Family. Pencuik House was gutted by fire in 1899 and has stood as a ruin for over a hundred years. The Penicuik House Project aims to make Penicuik House and the surrounding areas available for the public to enjoy and the project will also deliver considerable training benefits in the use of traditional building materials and techniques. Please note that the converted stable block is not included in the Doors Open Day Programme and there will be no access to this building. 

www.penicuikhouse.co.uk

Why not join us on Doors Open Day this year to visit our training centre and see how the building work has progressed. There will be activities throughout the day for all ages, including tours of the house and surroundings, demonstrations of traditional building skills and children's craft activities. Experts from the Scottish Lime Centre Trust will also be on hand to answer any questions you might have about your own building project - bring a photo for specifc advice.

Please meet at Penicuik House for guided walking tours at 1130 and 1330 hrs. 

An easy walk from car park on A766, with vehicular access to site for blue badge holders only. 

One of the most striking features as you approach the cemetery is the line of ancient yew trees running along the perimeter wall. The largest building at Old Pentland is the Gibsone Mausoleum designed in 1839 by the architect Thomas Hamilton; another of his buildings is the Royal High School. It commemorates Sir John Gibsone and his wife Henrietta and more recently, Jack Gibsone, Laird of Pentland, who died December 1992.

The Gate House was constructed to provide shelter for the family of the recently deceased, who kept watch until the body was no longer of use to the anatomists. Within the Gate House are the Arnold Stones thought to be from the 12/13C, associated with the Knights Templar.

Old Pentland also has links with the Covenanting movement and the Battle of Rullion Green. 

Last year during Doors Open Day a geophysical survey was carried out within the burial ground. The distinct features of buried walls were observed. The results showed extant foundations which indicate the existence of a church. Further investigation this year hopes to expose the apse end of the church to confirm the curved wall.

There are information boards on site and the Gibson Mausoleum and Gatehouse will be open.

(Limited parking on verge opposite, some disabled access possible with care and assistance.)

Orchard House is a self build completed in 2006. The challange was to create a house within a Victorian walled garden, using predominantly salvaged and recycled material from a chapel, supermarket, toll house and various other sources and which complimented the surrounding built environment.

Archie Hunter designed the building on the basis of the available material and built it with the support of wife Anne and creative technical back up of son Ross. The main ingredients were innovation and imagination.

Scale and proportionality were key requirements throughout the build. An empathetic approach to traditional materials, techniques and colouring was taken.


The Armadilla - A Design Classic

The Armadilla sets new standards of design, functionality and sustainability using locally grown timber, sheep's wool insulation, vegetable oil wood preserver and PV cells. Its life expectancy is measured in decades, it is carbon positive, easily transportable and looks fantastic. It has a myriad of uses from garden room to bothy, music room to artists' studio - the only limit is your imagination!

See it on your visit to Orchard House. Designed and built in Midlothian by the same team.

Tours of Orchard House on the hour from 1100 hrs until 1600 hrs. Places strictly limited and must be pre-booked.

Contact Archie by e-mail to book your tour, stating your name, number of visitors in your party and your preferred tour time - orchardhouse@rosewell.co.uk

The church was built as a United Presbyterian Church and a hall was added in 1900. The interior was remodelled in 2001 under the direction of Burnett Pollock Associates, Architects, to create multi-purpose areas for community and church use. This creative use of the church is quite unique and featured in National Architecture journals in 2002. Modern glass screens, lighting and new stained glass by local designer Elaine Adam are special features. 

In 2004 the refurbishment of Penicuik North Kirk was 'Highly Commended' in the Midlothian Awards for Good Design. 

www.pnk.org.uk

Some assistance may be required with disabled access. Limited on-street parking; small car park adjacent to main entrance.

Prestonhall is a Grade A listed house built in the Greek revival style of the late 18th C. Building started in 1791 on the site of an earlier mansion by the architect Robert Mitchell, for Alexander Callander. It is known for its fine architecture and beautiful interiors, with the central staircase its principal feature. The house has been the family home ever since and is full of personal touches. It is surrounded by beatufiful parkland and is a pleasure to walk in. There are many fine mature specimen trees including the 'Prestonhall Beech' which was nominated a heritage tree of Scotland.  One of the features in the Policies is the temple, a traditional folly, which can be seen from the house at the end of an avenue of ancient oak and sycamore trees.

There will be an opportunity for a limited number of people to visit and be shown around the house.  Tours must be booked in advance through Elaine Richardson on 0131-271 3465 or email doorsopendays@midlothian.gov.uk. Numbers limited to 15 per tour. Please state which tour time you would prefer in your e-mail.  

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED.    

Please be advised that visitors will not be admitted without pre-booked tickets which must be produced on arrival.

Image (c) www.scran.ac.uk

Climb the headframe of the Lady Victoria Colliery, home of the Scottish Mining Museum. This special behind the scenes tour is led by 2 guides. Sturdy shoes and jackets and a good head for heights are necessary. Safety helmets will be provided. Not suitable for children under 14. Participants must be reasonably fit and healthy. Booking is essential as numbers are strictly limited and the tour is always popular.   

Tour Times: 10.30, 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30 hrs. 

Take a tour of the Boiler House of the Lady Victoria Colliery and see the Lancashire boilers that powered the colliery. Sturdy shoes and jackets are advisable. Safety helmets will be provided. Booking is essential as numbers are strictly limited.

Tour Times: 11.30 and 14.30 hrs

Gift Shop, Restaurant and Tourist Information point located on site.

The Doors Open Day tours are free of charge. The museum will be open as usual with standard admission charges. Museum open 10.00 - 17.00 hrs (last museum admission 15.30 hrs).  Please note that whilst there is no disabled access to tours, the museum itself is fully accessible. 

Telephone the museum for further details and booking on 0131 663 7519.
www.scottishminingmuseum.com    

Soutra Aisle is a family burial vault constructed when the Scottish church banned monuments inside churches. It features ornately carved medieval stone and has been thoroughly investigated and beautifully restored.

On Doors Open Day the unlocked crypt can be explored.  The Aisle marks the largest and best endowed hospital in medieval Scotland and has been the focus of a unique archaeo-medical investigation since 1986. A visit to the site will allow you to hear what has been learnt of medieval medical practice and why the site and Aisle are important.  At 1200 ft. altitude this was the highest monastery in the British Isles – with magnificent views... so dress warmly!

Guided tours by Director of Investigations.  Parking available nearby; disabled access from car park gate.

The original church, which now forms the nave, was by R T N Speir, 1882. The chancel, vestries, crenellated tower and bell were added by H O Tarbolton in 1899. Features include beautiful stained glass, finely carved animal stops to the lancet window hood mouldings and inside, fine oak altar rails and rood screen. In 1978 a new church hall was added by Eric Stevenson.

The church organ was purchased from a house in East Lothian in the early 1930's. It has since undergone a number of alterations and remains extremely well used.

www.stjamespenicuik.co.uk

Information on display. Church archives on view. Facilities for the hard of hearing.

From Edinburgh take the Lothian Buses 37 Service.
From Peebles take the First Bus 62 Service.

Built as a Chapel for Dalkeith Palace by William Burn and David Bryce. Early English style with splendid features: double hammerbeam roof, heraldic floor tiles by Minton and the only working, water-powered Hamilton organ in Scotland. The East and West windows are original and were designed and executed in France.

www.stmarysdalkeith.co.uk 

On Doors Open Day there will be guided tours and an exhibition.

The exact date of the original Chapel on these grounds is not certain but it is known that in 1372 Robert II granted a licence to Sir James Douglas to endow a chaplaincy in the Chapel at St Nicholas. The present Church was completed in 1420. In 1590, following the Reformation, a curtain wall was built separating the apse from the rest of the Church. In the 17th Century, the main body of the Church was rebuilt.  It was altered again between 1847 and 1851 by the Scottish Architect, David Bryce. Amongst the changes was the removal of the trades lofts which had made the interior dark and crowded. One such trade was the Hammermen, their Banner has been restored and is displayed on the wall of the Church where their loft may have been. A photograph of the emblem which would have been on the front of the Hammermen's loft can be seen in the Coffee Shop. The Church continues in use today. A recent programme of restoration has been carried out on the stonework of the Church. Much of the funding for the work came from grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland.

The Apse is now a ruin.  It contains the recently restored effigy of the Earl of Morton and his wife, Princess Joanna, daugter of James I of Scotland. The effigy is now covered by a protective glass canopy on an oak and steel frame. Restoration work has recently been carried out on the stonework of the Apse. This too was funded by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland.   

The Alms Collection House re-opened in May 2010 after extensive renovation funded mainly by Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery fund. The Alms house was built in the mid 19C and is thought to have been where Kirk elders collected and distributed money to help people in need in the parish. It now serves as a small interpretation centre presenting informaton about the Church and apse and setting them in their historical context. 

www.stnicholasbuccleuch.org.uk

On Doors Open Day, guides will be on duty in the Church and Apse.

On display inside the Church are:-

• Hammermen's Banner - recently restored, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund
• Magnus McIntosh Memorial, glass etching by Scottish Artist, Alison Kinnaird
• Etching of Robert Burns in Masonic Regalia
• Plaque to Robert Smith, Architect of Lugton, Dalkeith and Philadelphia, USA

The Church runs a Coffee Shop adjacent to the Church itself, offering soup, sandwiches, home baking and tea and coffee.

Public access to the Church and Apse is available during cafe opening hours - ask staff for details.

Disabled access to Church and Coffee Shop, restricted access to Apse. Assistance for visitors with sight or hearing difficulties.