WHAT’S ON March – December 2019

Lectures,
Family Events,
Adult Workshops,
Theatre and Film.
Museums & Galleries
Edinburgh welcome
you to Lauriston Castle.
For more than 400 years, enchanting Lauriston Castle has overlooked the River Forth
at Silverknowes, near Cramond. Set among 30 acres of woodland and beautiful gardens,
Lauriston Castle is a special place to visit.

The Castle itself has a beautiful Edwardian interior, from which we take inspiration for many
of our workshops. Downstairs are the servants’ quarters, including the maids’ hall and the
atmospheric old kitchen, where a warm welcome awaits you during the winter months.

Why not double up a day visiting the Castle grounds with a picnic, and historic Cramond is
right on our doorstep so you can make a real day out visiting this part of Edinburgh.

Free car parking is available within the Castle grounds off Cramond Road South. Lauriston
Castle is easy to reach and is close by car from the City Bypass. It sits between Davidson’s Mains
and Cramond. You can take numerous buses to Davidson’s Mains, or Silverknowes Terminus;
both are around 10 minutes’ walk from Lauriston Castle. See www.lothianbuses.com for
details of local services.

Booking By phone
Pre-booking and advance payment are Telephone the City Art Centre
essential for all events. on 0131 529 3993 (Mon - Sun, 10am - 5pm)

Online In person
To book contact: The City Art centre, 2 Market Street,
edinburghmuseums.org.uk Edinburgh EH1 1DE 
(Monday to Sunday 10am - 5pm)

For further information (non-booking information) about any event, contact: Margaret Findlay,
Learning and Programmes Manager, on 0131 529 3963, or email margaret.findlay@edinburgh.gov.uk
Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Lectures
All of our lecture mornings cost £9 and
include a friendly lecture where you have the
opportunity to meet our guest lecturer, have
coffee and cakes and get a special tour.
Take advantage of our special offer,
book 10 lectures for £80.
Monday 13 May, 10.30am
Son of Surrealism, Father of Pop
This illustrated talk will look at the career of
Eduardo Paolozzi, both from the perspectives
of Surrealism and Pop Art. Bill Hare is
Honorary Fellow in Scottish Art History at the
University of Edinburgh. He has published
widely on Scottish modern art, including
Paolozzi at Large in Edinburgh (2018).
Saturday 18 May, 10.30am
Stars, Time and Mountains:
The Legacy of Charles Piazzi Smyth
It’s the 200th anniversary of the birth of the
famous and controversial Victorian polymath,
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Charles Piazzi Smyth. As Astronomer Royal
for Scotland, he created the One O’Clock Gun
tradition, started the idea of mountaintop
astronomy, pioneered stereo photography,
measured the Great Pyramid of Gizeh (and
came up with some strange theories…), wrote
many popular books, and created large numbers
of beautiful watercolours. In this talk, Professor
Lawrence will look at his legacy in Science, Art,
Photography and Egyptology, and show rarely
seen treasures from the archives of the Royal
Observatory Edinburgh. Andy Lawrence is the
Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University
of Edinburgh. Normally he studies supermassive
black holes, but is also fascinated by the rich
historical legacy of Edinburgh Astronomy.
Monday 1 July, 10.30am
The Gardeners of Salonika:
Britain’s War in the Balkans, 1915-18
Long considered to be an irrelevant sideshow,
Britain’s forgotten Salonika Force played a vital
part in the collapse of the Central Powers, on a
battlefront where the climate and terrain were
as powerful enemies as the Bulgarians. David
Clarke is a historian and specialist in the military
conflicts of the late Victorian British Empire
and the Great War. He is a teacher in Edinburgh.
The North Remembers
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
Saturday 6 July, 10.30am
The North Remembers:
The History Behind Game of Thrones
Ruthless seaborne warriors plunder the coasts in
their longships, a noble family are slaughtered
under a banner of truce, and a wall holds back
barbarian hordes clamouring for battle. But this
isn’t Westeros, it’s Scotland. George R. R. Martin
drew heavily from history to create his fantastical
Song of Ice and Fire. Now, writer and presenter
David C. Weinczok is using Martin’s world as a The Briggers
way to explore and understand the ebb and flow
of Scottish history. Character comparisons,
battle tactics, geography, and beasts of lore are
all a part of this crash course in Scotland’s story.
Saturday 27 July, 10.30am
David C. Weinczok is a Fellow of the Society of
The Briggers:
Antiquaries of Scotland, a features writer for
The Story of the Men and Boys
magazines including The Scots Magazine and
Who Built the Forth Bridge
History Today, and he presents short historical
documentaries available online. He is a regular The Briggers are a Forth Bridge research and
expert contributor on BBC Radio Scotland and presentation group of volunteers based in
is the author of the upcoming book The History South Queensferry. Named after the bridge
Behind Game of Thrones: The North workers, the group was formed to identify the
Remembers. David has visited over 400 castles names of the 73 men and boys who died
and fortifications in Scotland, and often shares constructing the Forth Bridge. Their research
these visits with the public through live video continues into the history of the bridge and the
streaming as ‘The Castle Hunter’. people who made and maintain it. The Briggers
give Forth Bridge talks to adults and school
children and provide consultancy to bridge
Tuesday 23 July, 10.30am projects. They also hold a significant archive of
Our Heritage in Our Hands: images, articles, books and other Forth Bridge
Caring for Scotland’s Great Gardens material. Their book “The Briggers”, written by
Edinburgh author and historian Elspeth Wills, is
Managing gardens is all about managing change.
based on their research and tells the story of
Ann Steele will discuss how the National Trust
the Forth Bridge and the men who made it.
for Scotland works to ensure that Scotland’s
great garden heritage is sustainable – now and
for future generations. Ann Steele trained as a
Monday 12 August, 10.30am
professional gardener and amenity landscape
Hell on the Tigris
manager. She has worked for the National
Trust for Scotland in a variety of roles since A truly neglected theatre of war, few people
1992 across a range of its gardens and was today recall the heroics of the British and
most recently appointed to the new post of Indian troops that fought in modern day Iraq,
Head of Heritage Gardening (Policy) in 2016.
Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
in a conflict with chilling echoes of modern
times, facing casualty rates worse than those
on the Western Front. David Clarke is a
historian and specialist in the military conflicts
of the late Victorian British Empire and the
Great War. He is a teacher in Edinburgh.
Monday 19 August, 10.30am
In Perpetuity
One hundred years ago, the Imperial War
Graves Commission began the monumental
task of commemorating the fallen of the Great
War in all theatres of conflict. The British
Empire was still reeling from the scale of her
losses and so commemoration of the dead and
the missing was an especially emotive topic.
A century later, men and women are
commemorated in cemeteries and on
memorials which span the globe. Wherever
they lie, or wherever their names are carved,
the CWGC has vowed to honour them ‘in
perpetuity.’ This talk will explore the founding
philosophy of the commission, the huge task of
creating the cemeteries and how the work of
the CWGC continues to this day. Ailsa Clarke’s
interest in WW1 was sparked as a 16-year-old
on her high school battlefield trip. She went
on as an adult to become a tour guide on the
Western Front before going into secondary
school teaching. She is also a practioner of
living history who specialises in portraying
women on active service during the conflict.
Friday 23 August, 10.30am
Robert Blomfield, Street Photographer:
The Edinburgh Years 1956 - 1966
This winter, our museum service had a hugely
successful exhibition at the City Art Centre,
‘Robert Blomfield: Edinburgh Street Photography
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Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
our lecture programme this year. Join Johnny
Blomfield who will show a choice selection
from his brother’s archive which could not be
included in the exhibition simply because
there wasn’t room for them, and will provide
some background to Robert’s work.
Monday 26 August, 10.30am
Thomas Begbie’s Edinburgh:
A mid-Victorian portrait
In 1950, former City Councillor Stanley Cavaye
was invited to a flat in St James Square to view
some ‘old pictures’. He discovered an
assortment of boxes which contained some
450 glass plate negatives by the little-known
Edinburgh photographer, Thomas Begbie.
Mostly taken between 1857 and 1860, they
present a unique snapshot of life in mid-
Victorian Edinburgh, from the splendour of
the New Town to the squalor of the Old.
Robert Blomfield, Street Photographer
In 1992 Mr Cavaye gifted this remarkable
collection to the City of Edinburgh. David
- An Unseen Archive’. Robert Blomfield
habitually took photographs of what he saw
wherever he went, from the mid-1950s to the
1990s, including ten years in Edinburgh, where
he studied medicine and worked as a junior
doctor. His was an unobtrusive and spontaneous
approach, quietly and skilfully capturing
interesting and often amusing or poignant
scenes in the rapidly changing post-war period.
His medical career meant that his vast collection
of striking images - which carry echoes of Henri
Cartier-Bresson and Vivian Maier - was stored
out of sight, until the City Art Centre recently
revealed some of them to a wide audience.
Most of that audience left with the feeling they
would love to see more, many more. We are
delighted to extend the joy of these photos to Thomas Begbie’s Edinburgh
Patterson is Curatorial and Conservation
Manager for Edinburgh Museums & Galleries.
Wednesday 4 September, 10.30am
Edinburgh’s First Chinese Gentleman
This talk will recount the remarkable story of
the first Chinese to settle in Britain. William
Macao came to Scotland in the mid-1770s and
after briefly working as a servant on the Black
Isle, moved to Edinburgh, where he lived for over
50 years. He worked his way up from a servant
at the Board of Excise to senior accountant. His
remarkable life is all the more so as he has the
unique status of being the only person since
1707 to have been legally designated a Scotsman.
On retiring after a long career in the arts, Barclay
Price has taken up historical research, including
tracing all the residents of his street in the New
Town. He also acts as a voluntary historical
researcher for Edinburgh World Heritage. A
chance discovery of William Macao led to Price
researching his previously unrecorded life, and
this led to his writing, The Chinese in Britain – A
History of Visitors and Settlers (Amberley Books).
This is the first-ever account of the lives of
Chinese travellers to our shores, from the first
in 1687 to the 20th century, and includes
seamen, students, cooks, brides, diplomats,
jugglers, servants, sportsmen, bureaucrats,
writers and ‘curiosities’. www.amberley-books.
com/the-chinese-in-britain.html.
Wednesday 11 September, 10.30am
The Employment and Industries
of Old Cramond
This lecture will look at the industries of the
Old Cramond Parish, with a focus on the Mills
of the River Almond and the impact of the
Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. Bill Weir is
Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
The Employment and Industries of Old Cramond
part of the Cramond Association and has
undertaken considerable work researching
North Edinburgh area. Bill has undertaken the
research of the mansion houses for the
Cramond Association and Heritage Trust, as
outlined in the 1773 Parish Map. He will share
his findings with us.
Thursday 19 September, 10.30am
Penicuik Estate:
Past Present and Future
This lecture will look at a brief history of
Penicuik Estate since it was acquired by the
Clerk family in 1654, the building, destruction
by fire of the Palladian Penicuik House and
subsequent consolidation of the ruin, followed
by a glimpse of plans for the future development
of the Estate in the hands of the current younger
generation of the Clerk family. Speakers: either
Sir Robert Clerk Bt., joint owner with other family
members of Penicuik Estate and trustee of
Penicuik House Preservation Trust or Charlotte
Picking, Head Ranger, Penicuik Estate.
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Monday 23 September, 10.30am
Revolutions, Rebellions and
Revelations: Scottish History seen
through Edinburgh’s Collections
Museums & Galleries Edinburgh collections
hold some remarkable objects which tell the
story of Scotland’s turbulent past. This talk
will take you through the key moments of
Edinburgh’s history from the National
Covenant of 1638 to the suppression of the
Highlands after the defeat of the Jacobite
Rebellion in 1746. Along the way, we will
explore some of the recent discoveries curators
at the city museums have made, and have a
look at some of the surprising objects in the
collections. Who knows what further revelations
will come to light before then? Nicolas Tyack is
Collections Information Officer for Museums &
Galleries Edinburgh and is based at the Museums
Collection Centre at Broughton Market.
Thursday 26 September, 10.30am
Scar: The Dramatic Story of a Viking
Boat Burial in Scotland
In 1991, a small team of hardy archaeologists
rescued a remarkable Viking boat burial at
Scar, in Orkney, just before the winter storms
Revolutions, Rebellions and Revelations
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
finally claimed it. The boat’s wealthy cargo
included not one, but three people: a man
aged about thirty when he died, a child of
about ten, and a woman who was astonishingly
old by the standards of the time, probably in
her seventies. Amongst the rich panoply of
finds in the 7-metre long boat was a
magnificent carved whalebone plaque, an
unusual gilded bronze brooch, a fine sword,
a set of bone gaming pieces and much else
besides. In this lecture, Olwyn Owen will
piece together the intriguing story of the
unlikely group of people buried in the Scar
boat burial, trace the origins and significance
of the objects they took with them to the
pagan afterlife, and explore the wider context
of the burial in our understanding of Viking
Scotland. Olwyn Owen is an archaeological
consultant, specialising in the Viking period,
who has excavated widely in Scotland and
Scandinavia and published numerous books
and papers. Previously, she had a long career
in a range of heritage management roles in
Historic Environment Scotland, most recently
as Head of Scheduling, Marine and Battlefields.
She is currently a Trustee of Archaeology
Scotland, amongst other voluntary roles.
Tuesday 1 October, 10.30am
Clermiston and some of the mansions
of the Old Cramond Parish
This lecture will explore the old estates of
Dalmeny, Craigiehall, and Cammo along with
Craigcrook Castle and Clermiston House, it will
also examine a number of the owners. Bill Weir
is part of the Cramond Association and has
undertaken considerable work researching
North Edinburgh area. Bill has undertaken the
research of the mansion houses for the
Cramond Association and Heritage Trust, as
outlined in the 1773 Parish Map. He will share
his findings with us.
Thursday 3 October, 10.30am
The Edinburgh Seven
One of the best stories never told when we
look back in history at the campaign for
equality between men and women. The
Edinburgh Seven predate even the redoubtable
Dr Elsie Inglis in taking on the misogyny of the
establishment to prove their worth. In March
1869, a Miss Jex-Blake applied to the Medical
Faculty of the University to study Medicine.
The University Court rejected her application
because it would not accommodate a lone
female in the faculty. Nothing daunted, she
advertised in national papers for other women
to join her – and so began the story of the
Edinburgh Seven. This is a story of audacity,
resilience and perseverance in the face of not
inconsiderable hostility. Ailsa Clarke became a
tour guide on the Western Front before going
into secondary school teaching. She is also a
practioner of living history who specialises in
portraying women on active service during
the conflict.
The Edinburgh Seven
Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Wednesday 9 October, 10.30am
The Changing Face of Leith
in the 20th century
Leith located on the Firth of Forth, was for
many centuries Scotland’s premier port. In
1833 it became a separate burgh with its own
Town Council. It became part of the City of
Edinburgh in 1920. This Lecture will give an
overview of the fascinating history of Leith and
discuss Leith’s unique position today. Jim
Tweedie is Chair of Leith Local History Society.
Saturday 12 October, 10.30am
Towers of Power:
2,000 Years of Fortifications
in Scotland
Take a stroll around Scotland and you’ll find a
dazzling array of fortifications, from Iron Age
brochs and medieval castles to modern
fortresses bristling with cannons - sometimes
all within sight of each other! This talk
introduces all the main types of fortified sites
in Scotland and shares plenty of examples for
you to explore once it’s over. More than a mere
survey of sites, Towers of Power emphasises
the factors that led to these amazing structures’
rise, evolution, and fall, and why they still
matter to us today. David C. Weinczok is a
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland, a features writer for magazines
including The Scots Magazine and History
Today, and he presents short historical
documentaries available online. He is a regular
expert contributor on BBC Radio Scotland and
is the author of the upcoming book The History
Behind Game of Thrones: The North Remembers.
David has visited over 400 castles and
fortifications in Scotland, and often shares
these visits with the public through live video
streaming as ‘The Castle Hunter’.
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Wednesday 16 October, 10.30am
The Unlikely Story of
Alexander Dow
This talk follows Dow from his birth in rural
Perthshire, near Comrie, to Eyemouth in
Berwickshire, where he worked for a leading
local smuggler, then to India rising to become
a Colonel in the East India Company. He wrote
a pioneering history of India, had two plays
produced by David Garrick and his portrait
was painted by Joshua Reynolds. He died in
1779, aged just 43. Derek Janes worked for the
City of Edinburgh Museums from 1985 to
2008, when he retired and took up the job of
Manager at Gunsgreen House in Eyemouth,
where Dow lived and worked in the early 1750s.
Derek’s work on the history of the house and
its builder, the smuggler John Nisbet, led to
his working towards a PhD on smuggling in SE
Scotland at the University of Exeter, due to be
finished this year.
Tuesday 22 October, 10.30am
Reflections on Morningside Life:
1798 -1970  
This lecture will tell the story of the emergence
of Morningside from a 19th century rural
hamlet to a thriving city suburb, covering the
social, economic and cultural changes that
have transformed the community.
Bob Cunningham will discuss aspects of
Morningside’s development and the War
years. One of the writers of Memories 3 will
recall memories of growing up in Morningside
in the early years of the 20th century.
Bob Cunninham has lived in Morningside for
41 years and is a history graduate with a
special interest in researching the history
of Morningside.
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
Wednesday 6 November, 10.30am
Broughton Through the Ages
This lecture will explore history of the village of
Broughton in Edinburgh over several centuries.
Richard Love and Sandra Purves will tell the story
of its history by means of a ‘walk’ through the
Broughton area, focused on the spine of
Broughton Street. Richard Love spent nearly
30 years in Occupational Medicine, until 1995,
when he jumped ship to become a dry stane
dyker Richard has been a member of the
Broughton History Society since its foundation
over 20 years ago, a former Chairman and
currently its Chairman again, also a committee
member and guide with the Friends of the
Mansfield Traquair Centre. Sandra Purves is a
Civil and Structural Engineer. After taking
early retirement Sandra was involved with
campaigning for the restoration of the Scottish
Lowland Canals to through navigation. A member
of Broughton History Society since 2004, Sandra
is currently the treasurer, and is involved in
researching the history of the local area.
Tuesday 12 November, 10.30am
Liketh, Loveth, Getteth & Useth Maps
John Dee, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexander
McCall Smith and countless other authors
have commented on maps and map making,
sometimes as essential parts of their tales
and sometimes as entertaining asides. In this
illustrated lecture curator Paula Williams
explores the National Library of Scotland’s
collections to see how maps have been portrayed
in literature. Paula Williams is Curator of
Maps, Mountaineering & Polar Collections at
the National Library of Scotland. A degree in
geography with options in glaciology and
cartography, and a background in community
libraries are combined in Paula’s perfect job.
It allows her to develop her interest in maps,
exploration and discovery.
Thursday 14 November, 10.30am
The Lost Medieval Towers of
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is one of the most iconic of
world monuments with almost 2 million
visitors every year, and yet its medieval form
has remained a mystery. This lecture will focus
on how recent historical research and
archaeological investigations have begun to
reveal how different the Castle looked to
Robert Bruce and the Stewart kings.
Archaeologist Peter Yeoman spent 30 years
unravelling this complex and fugitive story,
and is author of the current official guidebook
to the castle. He’ll talk about how the castle
we see today was fundamentally changed as a
result of the devastating sieges of 1573 and
1689, in which mighty cannon levelled the
once proud circuit of medieval towers. As well
as the more marshal aspects of the Castle,
we’ll also explore pleasantries, such as James
I’s herb garden, where James II had his sauna,
where James IV kept his billiard table, and the
highpoint of chivalric culture expressed in the
tournament of the Wild Knight and the Black
Lady held at Edinburgh Castle in 1507.
Wednesday 20 November, 10.30am
Granton, the Home of Dukes,
Earls and Lords
An exploration of the history of Granton
Castle, Royston House/Caroline Park and
Granton House, the owners, and the impact of
industrial change in the area. Bill Weir is part of
the Cramond Association and has undertaken
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
considerable work researching North Edinburgh
area. Bill has undertaken the research of the
mansion houses for the Cramond Association
and Heritage Trust, as outlined in the 1773
Parish Map. He will share his findings with us.
Tuesday 26 November, 10.30am
The Making of a 21st century Edinburgh
Castle - Fortress, Barracks, Monument
and Commodity.
The lecture traces the multiple fascinating
episodes in history that made Edinburgh Castle
the tourist attraction it is today. Walter Scott
‘discovered’ the Crown jewels of Scotland, and
these together with stories of Mary Queen of
Scots remain central to meanings for tourist
and citizen. This lecture will however unlock
many other stories. By 2017, the Castle has
become a multi layered site of meanings and
stories, many forgotten. Robert John Morris
remains Professor Emeritus, having taught
economic and social history for many years at
Edinburgh University. He has written widely
on the middle classes, urban development and
associational culture. Publications include
Men, Women and Property in England, 1780-
1870, and Scotland 1907. The Many Scotlands
of Valentine and Sons, photographers.
Thursday 28 November, 10.30am
The Struggle for Constantinople
Constantinople is a very big word and for many
centuries, millennia even, has been a very big
idea and a big cultural and commercial prize.
It survived the barbarian invasions of late
antiquity to become the mediaeval Queen of
Cities, the Mikelgard of Norse derring-do, and
furnished Venice and the West with much
cultural and artistic booty and inspiration until
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after the advent of Ottoman control in 1453.It
has remained a focus of Greek and Russian
Orthodoxy and ambition to the present day
and it was once again the focus of covetous
eyes upon its occupation by the Allies after the
Armistice in 1918. Gordon Wyllie is a charity
and trust lawyer who chairs the Law Society
of Scotland’s Trust and Succession Committee
and was a member of the European Commission’s
Group of Experts on International Succession
Law. He is the President of the Burgess
Association of Edinburgh, a founding member
of the Mediaeval Glasgow Trust, and served
three years as Deacon Convener of the Trades
of Edinburgh.
Tuesday 3 December, 10.30am
Mary Cameron: Life in Paint
Mary Cameron (1865-1921) was a female
artist ahead of her time. Born in Edinburgh,
she began her career as a portraitist and genre
painter, but training in Paris soon developed a
taste for foreign travel. In 1900 she visited
Madrid for the first time, and was captivated
by the Spanish culture, people and scenery.
Establishing studios in Madrid and Seville, she
painted traditional peasant life, dramatic
bullfights and rural landscapes. Although
Cameron was admired by her contemporaries,
her name is now little-known. Timed to
coincide with a major new exhibition at the
City Art Centre, this lecture charts the
fascinating story of Cameron’s life and career.
Dr Helen Scott is Curator of Fine Art at the
City Art Centre in Edinburgh.
Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception

Costumed Sunday 16 June, 2pm and 3pm

Performance
Toil and Trouble
Adult £8, Concession and children £6
(under 5 free)

Edinburgh Living History are our multi award-
winning team, who interpret the history of the
castle in a variety of entertaining ways in
Edwardian costume - bringing alive the history
of the house. Each performance is carefully
devised by Edinburgh Living History to be as
historically accurate as possible and include a
touch of drama and a soupcon of humour. You
will walk through the Castle on a special tour
watching the performance unfold.
Sunday 5 May, 2pm and 3pm
Sprucing up Lauriston
Adult £8, Concession and children £6
(under 5 free)
After the long winter and with the return of
longer days it is time to clean the castle.
However ill health among the staff is causing
a major problem. How can it be solved? Will
corners be cut?
Mr Reid will soon be going on one of his many
business trips to the continent so preparations
need to be made for the journey.
Unfortunately, Mrs Reid is not certain she feels
well enough to accompany him. At the same
time her brother, Mr Barton, has some scheme
up his sleeve that is causing the housekeeper
great concern. Can all these problems be
ironed out?

Sunday 8 September, 2pm and 3pm

There’s Suffragettes Amongst Us!
Adult £8, Concession and children £6
(under 5 free)
It’s 1909 at Lauriston. A member of staff,
in her own time, has taken part in the great
suffragette march along Princes Street - There’s Suffragettes Amongst Us!
something that has not being well received
by all at the Castle. What will the outcome of
this conflict be for her and other sympathisers?

Sunday 15 December, 2pm and 3pm

It is Christmas at the Castle in 1910
Adult £8, Concession and children £6
(under 5 free)
Mr Reid is planning to go against the normal
Scottish Christmas by taking time off from
work and celebrating by having a tree and
other decorations, while the family and staff
provide entertainment. This means more work
for cook and the kitchen staff, something they
are not too happy about. Come and enjoy the
festivities... and grumbling for a good old
Sprucing up Lauriston Scottish Edwardian Christmas.
Photo by: Ian Georgeson It is Christmas at the Castle in 1910

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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Murder
Mysteries
Wednesday 7 August, 3pm - 6pm
and Thursday 8 August, 3pm - 6pm
Death Pays a Visit
£22 with afternoon tea
It’s 1913 on an August summer’s day, and the
Sunday morning after a party thrown by Gerald
Oliver, the owner of The Laurels, to celebrate
the birthday of his sister-in-law. A select group
of friends and relations have been invited and
a good time is being had by most... until a
murder is discovered. What secrets lie behind
the walls of this old Castle?
Come and see if you can solve the crime and
unmask the killer. This is a reworking of a
mystery staged very successfully 5 years ago.
Beware, if you saw it before, the solution may
not be the same!
Death Pays a Visit
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Murder at the Laurels
Photo by: Jan Smith
Friday 8 November, 7pm - 10pm
and Saturday 9 November, 7pm - 10pm
Murder at the Laurels
£22 with wine/prosecco
Experience atmospheric Lauriston Castle
at night.
It is 1910 on a snowy November night. A small
group of people come together at an isolated
mansion, apparently for a celebration. Very
soon one of them is murdered. What secrets do
these guests have as their past comes back to
haunt them? Can you work out who the killer is
before he/she strikes again?
Murder at the Laurels
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
Visually Impaired
Tours and BSL Tours
Saturday 14 December, 1pm Saturday 7 March, 1 pm
BSL Interpreted Tour Descriptive Tour
of Lauriston Castle at Christmas for Visually Impaired Visitors
of Lauriston Castle
Join us for a special Christmas Tour at Lauriston
Castle which will have a BSL interpreter Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb for a tour spe-
present. Step back in time and experience life cifically designed for visually impaired visitors
in Edwardian Edinburgh at Christmas. Marvel at around fascinating Lauriston Castle. Explore a
the sumptuous rooms and beautiful décor. variety of beautiful surviving Edwardian inte-
riors including the lavish dining room, drawing
Free but booking is essential. To book visit
room, bedroom, kitchen and library (complete
edinburghmuseums.org.uk or phone the City
with its own secret door!).
Art Centre on 0131 529 3993. This tour has
some steps to the main floor of the house and Free but booking is essential. To book visit
no lift access. edinburghmuseums.org.uk or phone the City
Art Centre on 0131 529 3993. This tour has
some steps to the main floor of the house and
Sunday 15 December, 1pm no lift access.
Descriptive Tour
for Visually Impaired Visitors
of Lauriston Castle at Christmas
Join us for a special Christmas Tour at Lauriston
Castle specifically designed for visually
impaired visitors. Step back in time and
experience life in Edwardian Edinburgh at
Christmas. Marvel at the sumptuous rooms and
beautiful décor.
Free but booking is essential. To book visit
edinburghmuseums.org.uk or phone the City
Art Centre on 0131 529 3993. This tour has
some steps to the main floor of the house and
no lift access.
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Special Events
for Families
Our charging family events are designed to
be family learning experiences and the price
is per person.
Sunday 21 April, 10am - 1pm
Easter at the Castle
£7 per person
Join us for our annual family Easter event at
Lauriston Castle which kicks off our 2019
events programme. There will be trails, games
and crafts as well as lots of chocolate treats!
Of course, there will be our annual egg and
spoon race.
Free drop-in sessions
with Archaeology
Scotland
just drop-in anytime
Saturday 4 May, 2pm - 4pm
Touch the Past - Hands on Museum
free
Were Bronze Age swords heavy? How did
Vikings hold up their clothes? How did people
cut things without metal? Take a peek behind
the museum glass and handle real and
replicate artefacts from around Scotland.
Archaeologists from Archaeology Scotland
will be on hand to with a selection of artefacts
for you to explore. A rare chance to touch and
handle archaeological artefacts. People of all
ages welcome.
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Roman Lamp Making
Saturday 11 May, 2pm - 4pm
Archaeologists for a Day
free
Stop by for our family archaeological dig with
Archaeology Scotland. Have a go at finding
artefacts from different periods in Scotland’s
past. See what it is like to be an archaeologist.
A great event for families.
Saturday 1 June, 2pm - 4pm
Roman Lamp Making
free
A short set of hands on activities for families.
Try your hand at creating a Roman clay lamp.
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
Enjoy some relaxing colouring. Join
Archaeology Scotland for a crafty few hours
exploring Scotland’s Roman past.
RSPB Scotland at Lauriston Castle
Free drop-in activities from 10am - 4pm
Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April
Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July
Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October
RSPB Scotland love nature - they’re passionate
about wildlife and wild places. They believe the
environment should be at the top of the agenda
whether the subject is building houses, setting
up wind farms, fishing our seas, transporting Teddy Bear’s Picnic
goods or educating our children. They never
give up, and get things done; making changes
for the better, for wildlife and for people. Come
The classic children’s books come to life with a
along to Lauriston Castle to take part in some dramatized reading from Posturous Productions.
wildlife themed activities with RSPB Scotland
and see how you can be part of saving nature! Come round to Lauriston Castle to go with
Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera on some of their
Free and Drop in for all the family.
greatest adventures!
(Please note that, although this show is entirely
Sunday 7 July, 2pm, (Age 6 plus) family-friendly, the source material contains
Rudyard Kipling’s violent animal behaviour which might upset
very small children.)
The Jungle Book
£5 per person,
with some jungle snacks included!
Sunday 21 July, 10am - 1pm
“Here we go in a flung festoon, The Lauriston Castle
Half-way up to the jealous moon! Teddy Bear’s Picnic
This is the way of the monkey kind.” £7 person
Our teddies have been holidaying for a few
years but they are back! Join us for a morning
RSPB Scotland
of teddy bear themed fun! Remember to bring
a picnic. We will also provide some teddy
approved snacks over the morning. Don’t
forget to bring your bear, we will have a
competition for the best dressed bear!
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Summer Magic Workshop
Saturday 3 August, 10.30am - 12pm
Summer Magic Workshop with
Edinburgh International Magic Festival
£7 per child, Ages 7-11
What would it be like to perform real magic?
How would it feel to receive an invitation to a
secret Magic School to develop those skills?
Find out this summer as you learn, create and
perform your own magic at a whirlwind
workshop! Learn to perform incredible magic,
make new wizard friends and become a
graduate of the most mysterious school in the
world - Magic School.
Saturday 10 August, 10am - 4pm
Forces on the Forth
Free costumed re-enactment, just drop-in
With the Great War just six days old, the
men of the Forth and Tay Defences of the
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Territorial Force are assembling at their
mobilisation bases and heading to Lauriston
Castle to prevent a possible German invasion!
Join Scots at War to learn about the roles
part-time soldiers played in defending
Edinburgh in 1914 before heading off to
France and Gallipoli, and enjoy handling
original kit and equipment from a century
ago. Scots at War are the only living history
group in Scotland that depict the Scottish
soldier at war and peace between 1899-1945.
With an emphasis on ‘forgotten fronts’ as
well as the role of women, the group seeks to
recreate long disbanded regiments and battles
that have slipped from public consciousness.
MagicFest at the Fringe presents
The Secret Room@Lauriston Castle
Saturday 10 August, Sunday 11 August,
Tuesday 13 August, Wednesday 14 August
and Thursday 22 August, 5.30pm & 7.30pm
£20/£18 conc/£15 child, 75mins, Ages 10+
Enter secluded Lauriston Castle and travel back
in time to a world of clandestine laboratories,
Forces on the Forth
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
hidden passages and secret rooms... A sell out
in 2018, three mysterious magicians animate
the castle’s intriguing past with stories,
performances and illusions related to the
history of Lauriston and her owners. A high
court judge come surreptitious alchemist, a
gambler who nearly lost everything, what other
surprises does this wonderful castle conceal?
To book: www.magicfest.co.uk
or 0131 226 0006
Sunday 18 August, either 10am - 12.30pm
or 1.30pm - 4pm
Pinhole Cameras
£6 per session per person
To celebrate World Photography Day
(19 August), join us for a special workshop
exploring pinhole cameras. Back to basics
workshop where you will experiment with
pinhole cameras made from whisky tubes and
card. We all spend so much time staring at
Back to Hogwarts Day
screens and consuming digital images, for this
workshop we will be slowing right down.
We will learn about the basics of pinhole
photography followed by the magical chemical
process of developing black and white prints
in a darkroom.
No experience is necessary. All materials
provided, but if you have a cardboard whisky
tube box with lid, bring it! We will be working
outdoors for some of the time.
With artist Kit Martin.
Sunday 1 September, 10am - 1pm
Back to Hogwarts Day
£6 per person, with some magical snacks!
To mark “Back to Hogwarts Day’ we have a
special magical wizardry workshop at Lauriston.
Spend a magical day with us. Make some magic
potions, craft some special owls and go on
secret quests through the Castle. School
uniform is essential please!
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk

Saturday 7 December, 2pm

Saturday 26 October or Sunday 27 October,
10am - 1pm
The Terror Trail
£6 per person,
with some Halloween treats to munch!
The Edinburgh Horror Festival have been
passed the torch for Lauriston Castle’s hugely
popular Spooky Lauriston and they have
created an all new interactive morning
adventure for families. Featuring a large-scale
Terror Trail through the grounds of the castle
where you have to find gruesome hidden
horrors. You can also head into the castle to
find magical wizards and ghoulish story tellers
and lots of extra activities. Suitable for children
over 6 years old. The event is a drop in event
running until 1:00pm. Allow at least an hour to
experience everything on offer. Children should
be accompanied by a paying adult.
Christmas Ghost Stories
£5 per person, with some Christmas treats
afterwards to munch!
Pull up a chair by the fire, relax with some
Christmassy goodwill, but pull up the covers
because not only does the winter chill – but so
do the tales of terror. Join a collection of story
tellers for a Christmas afternoon of Victorian
and Edwardian Ghost stories in the atmospheric
and beautiful surroundings of Lauriston Castle.
An event suitable for all lovers of Christmas
spookiness from ages 10 and over. Costumed
story tellers bring the characters and worlds to
life in Christmas Ghost Stories.
Saturday 21 December, 10am - 10.45am
or 12pm - 12.45pm
Magic Show: Christmas Tricks
£9 per adult/child, includes some festive
nibbles at the end
The Lauriston Christmas magic show is back!
Witness startling magic, uplifting mystery and
festive frolics for the whole family in a lavish,
historic setting in the belly of Lauriston Castle.
This show sold out last year, so book early to
avoid disappointment!

Sunday 1 December, 10am - 1pm

A Family Enchanted Christmas
£8 per person, with Christmas nibbles
Join us for a morning of magic where you can
escape and experience a real Edwardian
Christmas. See the Castle beautifully decorated
for Christmas. Crafts, Edwardian magic lantern
A Family Enchanted Christmas
show, storytelling, Santa tales and outside trail.

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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Special Events
for Adults
Saturday 8 June, 2pm
Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon
£10 includes a glass of wine/tea/coffee/cake
The repertoire for the lute is among the
richest in the western world, but little known.
Much of it was intended for small audiences
in intimate settings. Join lutenist Nico Tyack
for an afternoon of music in the peaceful
seclusion of Lauriston Castle’s courtyard and
be transported to the Renaissance courts of
Europe. Music will include works by John
Dowland, Francesco da Milano and Giovanni
Kapsberger. From a young age, Nico Tyack
has always been fascinated with the music of
the Renaissance and early-Baroque. He’s been
playing the Classical Guitar since he was 7 and
took up the lute while at university. He works
as Collections Information Officer for Museums
& Galleries Edinburgh, where he can indulge
his passion for all things Early Modern. His
dream is to own a theorbo, a type of enormous
resonant bass lute from the early 1700s.
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Saturday 15th June, 7.30pm for 8pm
Gosford Park
at Lauriston Castle
£15 with a glass of wine
You’re invited to a weekend in the country on
the estate of Sir William McCordle. But better
beware, secrets will be revealed, and it appears
that everyone, both above and below stairs,
has an axe to grind with our distinguished host.
Director Robert Altman brought together a fine
ensemble cast for this 2001 production.
Written by Julian Fellows, it’s a study of the
British class system in the 1930s, all wrapped
up in a murder mystery worthy of Agatha
Christie herself.
Dress code: 1930s Upstairs or Downstairs
To book: gosfordpark.eventbrite.com
Gosford Park
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
Much Ado About Nothing
Saturday 13 July, 7pm
(bring your picnic at 6pm)
Shakespeare at the Castle
The Three Inch Fools present
Much Ado About Nothing
£16 adults, £8 under-18s, £40 family (2+2)
(Free for under-10s)
Watch Shakespeare against the dramatic
back-drop of Lauriston Castle and watch the
sun set behind you. Five actors, with all manner
of musical instruments, present an inventive
take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About
Nothing - a rip-roaring comedy of quarrels,
deceptions and a frustratingly stupid man
called Dogberry... The Three Inch Fools are a
five-strong troupe of actors with all manner of
musical instruments, performing a highly
imaginative and vibrantly musical take on
Shakespeare’s plays across the UK. The Fools
perform Shakespeare in almost any kind of
setting - castles, cathedrals, historic houses,
gardens, churches, market places, village greens,
an old fire station, a medieval crypt, a crowded
pub and a garlic farm – all the world’s a stage!
This show is suitable for all the family.
Macbeth
Thursday 25 July, 7pm
(bring your picnic at 6pm)
Shakespeare at the Castle
The Three Inch Fools present
Macbeth
£16 adults, £8 under-18s, £40 family (2+2)
(Free for under-10s)
Watch Shakespeare against the dramatic
back-drop of Lauriston Castle and watch the
sun set behind you. Five actors, with all manner
of musical instruments, present an inventive
take on Shakespeare’s infamous Scottish play,
Macbeth. The Three Inch Fools are a five-strong
troupe of actors with all manner of musical
instruments, performing a highly imaginative
and vibrantly musical take on Shakespeare’s
plays across the UK. The Fools perform
Shakespeare in almost any kind of setting -
castles, cathedrals, historic houses, gardens,
churches, market places, village greens, an old
fire station, a medieval crypt, a crowded pub
and a garlic farm – all the world’s a stage! This
show is suitable for all the family.
A special discount applies to both Shakespeare at
the Castle performances if you book both shows.
£28 adults, £13 under-18s, £70 family (2+2)
(Free for under-10s)
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Longwood: Napoleon’s Last Days
Thursday 15 August, Friday 16 August and
Saturday 17 August, 6pm
Longwood: Napoleon’s Last Days
£10
In 1815, seventeen European states declared
war on one man and committed over a million
soldiers to his capture. A hundred days later,
Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to a country
residence on the windswept plains of a volcanic
island over a thousand miles from the closest
landmass. On the 250th anniversary of his
birth, Posturous Productions invites you to
meet the man behind the monster, the tyrant
behind one of the biggest wars this world had
ever known and the visionary who rewrote the
laws of most of western Europe during a reign
that lasted less than two decades. Welcome to
Saint Helena...
To book:
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4060174
Saturday 14 September, 2pm
The Canterville Ghost
£7 per person,
with some refreshments to keep you strong!
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When The Otis Family move to Canterville
Chase, they are shocked to discover that the
house everyone told them was haunted has an
actual ghost in it.
The only question is... Who will this
co-habitation make move out first?
Oscar Wilde’s classic story comes to life with a
dramatized reading from Posturous Productions,
the producers of the 2018 Halloween sell-out
horror pantomime Frankomime’s Monster.
Sunday 24 November, 2pm
Charles Dickens’ The Haunted House
£7 per person,
with some refreshments to keep you strong!
Charles Dickens’s last Christmas ghost story
comes to life with a dramatized reading from
Posturous Productions, the producers of the
2018 Halloween sell-out horror pantomime
Frankomime’s Monster. When John moves into
an old country house which everyone told him
was haunted, he begins to experience weird
sounds and it becomes very difficult for him
to keep the staff from shivering, shaking or
quitting. What could possibly be going on?
The only way to find out is, of course, to
bring as many friends into the house as
possible and assign each one to a separate
room over Christmas.
Sunday 8 December, 3pm
Christmas with Bel Canto
£20, with Christmas nibbles and mulled wine
Bel Canto, the Edinburgh-based a cappella group,
directed by David Buchanan-Cook, returns to
Lauriston Castle with a festive programme of
traditional and Edwardian carols interspersed
with seasonal readings.
Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Edinburgh
Horror Festival
at Lauriston Castle
We are thrilled to be working with Edinburgh
Horror Festival at the Castle, a unique and
popular festival celebrating all things
gruesome! Atmospheric Lauriston Castle is
the backdrop for a programme of very
different events.
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Saturday 26 October & Sunday 27 October,
1.30pm or 2.45pm
The Lauriston Horror Tour
£5 per person
The Edinburgh Horror Festival take over the
castle tours for the weekend. Come along and
see the sights of the castle as never seen before
– hear the history of the castle and ghostly
tales of the city with your professional tour
guide. Blood chilling cases of murder, witch
trials and persecutions that have plagued
Edinburgh, and listen out for the ghostly
footsteps of the castle itself.
Lasts approx. 60 minutes. Over 12 years old.
To book, www.edhorrorfest.co.uk.
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
Saturday 26 October & Sunday 27 October,
4.00pm or 5:30pm
Saturday 26 October & Sunday 27 October,
7:00pm
The Haunted Hunt:
The Witch’s Cauldron
The Twilight Séance 
£10
£7 per person
Edinburgh Horror Festival Sell out Show 2017
and 2018. The séance is a traditional part of
The sell-out hit “The Haunted Hunt” returns for
Hallowe’en, from Hollywood horror movies to
its third year and its third new story. In this
the real-life Houdini séances of the 1920s and
interactive puzzle adventure aimed at children
30s. Join paranormal illusionist Ash Pryce as he
aged 8 and over, you get to explore the
leads you into the netherworld, join hands and
grounds and rooms of the castle, meet bizarre
whisper gently as the bells ring, objects levitate
and strange characters, solve the puzzles, find
the clues, and escape the Evil Witch that is and the spirits make contact. Please note, this
after some boys and girls for her cauldron... is a magic themed event... or is it?
children should be chaperoned by one adult.
Lasts approx. 75 minutes. Over 18s only.
Lasts approx. 60 minutes. Over 8 years old. To book, www.edhorrorfest.co.uk.
To book, www.edhorrorfest.co.uk.
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Adult Craft
Workshops
We provide tea/coffee and cake in our adult
workshops. Please bring a packed lunch.
Saturday 25 May and Sunday 26 May,
10.30am - 3.30pm
Mosaic Panels
£40 for 2 days
Explore making a mosaic panel using glass
mosaic tiles in vibrant colours and fractured
glass. This can be placed either indoor or
outdoor.
With Margaret Findlay.
Saturday 15 June, 10.30am - 3.30pm
Cyanotypes on Fabrics and Paper
£30
To celebrate National Nature Photography Day
today join us for an introduction to the
cyanotype process. This will be a day of
experimentation; once you have learnt the
Mosaic Panels
30
Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
basics of mixing chemicals and coating fabric &
paper, you will be able to work at your own
pace. The number of prints we will make will
depend in part on the strength of the sun!
No experience is necessary. All materials
provided, but you might want to bring some
natural fabrics and/or some items to make
prints with e.g. plants, feathers, lace (flat things
that can be squashed under glass). An apron is
recommended, to avoid blue stains from the
chemicals. We will be working outdoors for
some of the time.
With artist Kit Martin.
Sketching Lauriston Autumn Wreaths
Saturday 20 July, 10.30am - 3.30pm
Abstract Art at the Castle
£25
One of our most popular themes at the Sunday 25 August, 10.30am - 3.30pm Saturday 19 October, 10.30am - 3.30pm
Castle. Experiment with a variety of painting Patchwork Appliqued Cushions Autumn Wreaths
techniques, including pouring, texture, £25 £25
spraying and layering, before creating a
unique artwork on canvas. The focus is on Make a beautiful cushion with a patchwork Make a seasonal wreath to take your door up
creating a relaxed fun day of experimentation applique to grace your home. Use our beautiful to Christmas! Using autumnal colours and
for anyone keen to try new painting array of vintage style fabrics to create a other autumn embellishments make a pre-lit
charming object. magical wreath that will brighten up this
techniques. No experience is necessary.
season.
With artist Erik Petrie. With Felicity Bryant.
With Margaret Findlay.
Sunday 13 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm
Sketching Lauriston Saturday 23 November, 10.30am - 3.30pm
£25 Sparkling hand-made Christmas cards
£25
The Tower House is the oldest section of
Lauriston Castle, it’s beautiful rooms are seldom Make gorgeous little hand-painted Christmas
seen. Take this class to uncover its secrets and cards to enchant your friends with this
take part in a sketching session focussing on Christmas.
some secret and very picturesque corners
With Erik Petrie.
followed by drawing development time in
the afternoon.
Cyanotypes on Fabrics and Paper
With Erik Petrie.
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk

Saturday 14 December, 10.30am - 3pm

Green Wreaths
£35
Our quintessential Christmas class, where you
can make a stunning green wreath with
embellishments to take pride of place on your
door.
Christmas Felt Garlands and Countyry Bunting With Margaret Findlay.

Sunday 15 December, 10.30am - 3pm

Wednesday 4 December, 10.30am - 3.30pm Fresh Wreaths
Christmas Felt Garlands £35
and Country Bunting The second day of our fresh green wreath
£30 classes. Using Lauriston castle greenery, make a
Make gorgeous garlands with felted Christmas beautiful Christmas wreath to make your door
characters, and some country Christmas really stand out for Christmas.
bunting to cheer up your home this season. With Margaret Findlay.
With Margaret Findlay.

Friday 20 December, 10.30am - 12.30pm or

Thursday 5 December, 10.30am - 3.30pm 1.30pm -.30pm
Personalised Christmas Stockings Enchanted 3D Christmas Pictures
£25 £25

Make an adorable little Christmas stocking Create a magical Christmas themed 3D framed
using vintage inspired fabrics also embellished picture using a wide range festive materials to
with the recipient’s name. light up the Festive season.

With Felicity Bryant. With Mike Durnan

Friday 13 December, 10.30am - 3.30pm

Cranberry Scandinavian Wreaths and
Ivy Garlands
£35
Make an exquisite natural wreath studded with
cranberries and a beautiful fresh swag for your
fireplace or staircase or for round your front door.
Cranberry Scandinavian Wreaths and Ivy Garlands
With Margaret Findlay.

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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Family Workshops
Our family workshops are designed to be
family learning experiences and the price is
per person. We provide tea/coffee cake for
parents and snack for children halfway
through the workshop.
Saturday 4 May, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Over the Rainbow
£6 per person
Celebrate the coming of spring with us.
Take inspiration from the fresh bright colours
appearing in our beautiful gardens and enjoy
creating a magical rainbow craft to start May
in a shower of bright colours. Dress in your
loveliest rainbow gear.
With Eliza Kate Leiter.
Over the Rainbow
Sunday 12 May, 10.30am - 12.30pm
It’s Spring at the Castle!
£6 per person
Today is National Children’s Day UK! We are
celebrating spring. With the Japanese Garden
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Book by phone: 0131 529 3993 or at City Art Centre Reception
full of blossom and the castle gardens full of
colour we will explore a variety of spring projects.
Friday 5 July, 11am - 1pm
A Riot of Colour
Friday 9 August, 10.30am - 12.30pm
or 2pm - 4pm
With Erik Petrie.
£6 per person Sketchy Scrapbooks!
£6 per person
Create bold and beautiful pictures inspired by
Lauriston’s beautiful Japanese gardens. Express Today is National Book Lovers Day! To
Sunday 2 June, 10.30am - 12.30pm yourself like you never have before. Messy celebrate we are making sketch books. Never
or 1.30pm - 3.30pm results guaranteed! forget your visit to Lauriston Castle! Spend
Glorious Gardening time sketching our magical castle and our
With Erik Petrie.
£6 per person beautiful grounds then seal your memories
ALL AGES in a handmade scrapbook.
This is National Children’s Gardening Week!
To celebrate this, we have a special gardening With Erik Petrie.
workshop. Summer is here and it’s time to get
Sunday 28 July, 10:30am - 12:30pm AGES 4+
green fingered. Decorate some terracotta pots
and sow some seeds for your garden or Tree Sculpture
£6 per person
windowsill. Create some fun labels to remind
Sunday 11 August, 10.30 - 12.30pm
you what you planted and watch them grow. Today is National Tree Day! Discover the trees
or 1.30 - 3.30pm
With Mike Durnan. of Lauriston on a magical art trail through the
An Underwater World
woods. Inspired by your discoveries, create a
£6 per person
tree sculpture to adorn your home or garden.
Discover what lives in our wonderful pond in
Saturday 8 June, 11am - 3pm With Mike Durnan.
Lauriston’s Japanese Garden and like a scientist
The Deep Blue Sea
record what you have found in a special little
£7 per person
book. Create your very own sailing boat to sail
Today is World Ocean’s Day, and to celebrate in the pond.
we are going to make hand felted pictures and
With Mike Durnan.
also some little bunting inspired by the sea.
With Margaret Findlay.
Remember to bring a packed lunch. Sunday 15 September, 10.30am - 12.30pm
A Lauriston Collage
£6 per person
Sunday 9 June 10.30am - 12:30pm
Join us to make a beautiful collage inspired by
Summer Meadow Mobile
the natural environment of the Castle. You will
£6 per person
get the chance to put your work in a beautiful
We love summer here at Lauriston Castle, our frame at the end of the day.
grounds look beautiful. Capture the magic of a
With Erik Petrie.
bright and sunny summer’s day and create a
beautiful handcrafted mobile using textured
paper and natural materials.
With Erik Petrie.
It’s Spring at the Castle!
AGES 4+
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Book online at edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Regal Knights
Sunday 22 September, 10.30 - 12.30pm
or 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Regal Knights
£6 per person
Lauriston Castle is always on the lookout for
brave knights to protect us from marauding
dragons. Make you own coat of arms, sword
and shield to battle and defend yourself.
With Mike Durnan.
Sunday 6 October 10.30am - 12.30pm
or 1.30 - 3.30pm
Autumn’s Bounty
£6 per person
Be inspired by the glorious autumnal colours,
patterns and textures in Lauriston’s magical
grounds. Collect objects from nature and
create your own badge, brooch, and pendants.
With Mike Durnan.
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Halloween Wand Making Workshop
Sunday 20 October, 11am - 12.30pm
Halloween Wand Making Workshop
£6 per person
Design and then build your very own magic
wand with our expert wand makers, using a
huge assortment of spooky, sparkly and glittery
materials! Then swish, swoosh and cast your
spells to collect bags of sweets this Halloween!
Wizarding fancy dress recommended!
With Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
Saturday 22 December, 10.30am - 1pm
A Crafting Family Christmas
£6 per person
Join us at Lauriston Castle this Christmas for a
family class exploring a variety of Christmas
projects. It will get you in the mood for
Christmas!
With Erik Petrie.