This is one of two 'lady grottoes' along the Water of Leith. They were built around 1750 by Robert Bowie, a landscape gardener, when the area was part of the Redhall Estate. As there name implies they offered a place for the ladies to sit and rest from the exertions of walking along the river. Inside the ceiling has shells visible, left over from the original shell mosaics that were added when the grottoes were first built.The Water of Leith Management plan is out for public consultation at the moment. You can read it here and comment on it too if you are in the area.
I'm teaching a course about the Water of Leith for Edinburgh University this summer, you can read more about it here.
25 comments:
Lovely shadow shots and such an interesting place! Hope your weekend is going well, Juliet! Enjoy!
Sylvia
Jon proposed to me in one of those grottoes.
nice; thanks for sharing
much love
gillena
Wouldn't it be great to have a grotto in my garden?! I guess I don't really have the room for one, but I WOULD like it!
lady grotto
wayside resting place
shady retreat
Shimmering Shadow
It really does look like a very lovely place indeed!
An intriguing place, Juliet. How very exciting about your course.
Terrific Shadow Shot and so interesting. I'll wander to your link now. Have a great weekend.
That's absolutely beautiful! I'd love to show your picture on my blog (with your permission of course) I think it's gorgeous!
bmfessentials.blogspot.com :)
It looks cool and inviting.
It looks like a lovely spot to rest!
What a beautiful shadow shot. I can just see the ladies sitting there having a rest.
Beautiful spot! Great shadow as well!
I was interested to read about Water of Leith in an old, second-hand Robert Louis Stevenson book of his essays I bought recently - I immediately thought of you.
I'd be very happy to sit for a while in that charming little grotto. It's gorgeous!
wow that's beautiful.. so serene. I love the thought of it as a ladies resting place on walks. I want one in my garden too.. alongside my imaginary river and meadow .. ah dreams ;)
I wonder if men were banned from these grottos
Lady grottoes? Does it mean, a religious grottoes? Like Virgin Mary's grotto §;-)
I am not sure if I understand right, but what the h...k, I care, huh? Thing is you captured that solemness & calmness of the ambiance of the surroundings.
Love it!
x0x0
Gerald - interesting question, I don't know to be honest
Ritchie - no not religious as far as i know, but a place where the women in a party (in the 18th century) would rest while the men went on for a longer walk.
A lovely shadow shot. It looks a super spot to sit and watch the world go bvy
How civilised to have a special place for the ladies to sit! Next time we are in Edinburgh I want to visit the Water of Leith as it always looks so lovely in your pictures!
love the resting place. i'm sure those shells accent it nicely. hope all is well.
Beautiful!
I wouldn't mind stopping to rest there... :)
oh - i would very much like to see this!
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