Merlinian Muse

10/11/2023

“Think of the happiest things. It’s the same as having wings.” - Disney’s Peter Pan

~ Kirriemuir, Scotland - The Birthplace of James M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan (and many other stories) ~

The humble cottage where Barrie grew up is now an NTS (National Trust for Scotland) museum. The wash house is now called The Wendy House because it’s where Barrie performed his first Peter Pan plays for his family as a small boy. There is even a “Wendy” book that only visitors named Wendy can sign. So, if you’re reading this and your name is Wendy or if you know a Wendy, let them know that there is a book waiting for them to sign in Kirriemuir. Not far away is the Tick-Tock garden (no, not the app lol). Tick-Tock, the crocodile 🐊 with a clock in her belly, is waiting for you.

For those about to rock 🤘🏼, Kirriemuir is also the hometown of Bon Scott, frontman of AC/DC ⚡️.

26/07/2023

“Mary Magdalene” - a Pre-Raphaelite painting by Frederick Sandys (1858-1860,) depicts Mary Magdalene in front of a patterned forest-green damask. Mary holds an alabaster jar, a traditional attribute which associates her with the woman who anointed Jesus. The Feast Day of Mary Magdalene is 22 July. 🌹

13/07/2023

✨ Gold? 💎 Diamonds? 🐞 … Beetles?

This astonishing jewellery set has an unusual addition – instead of using precious stones, these sparkling green details are made from 46 dried South American weevils!

🦗 These bugs (Lamprocyphus augustus) have a shimmering wing case, which changes colours when viewed from different angles. When worn in the evening, these pieces would have created an otherworldly, iridescent effect and made for a striking conversation piece.

Matching jewellery sets like this collection of a tiara, necklace and earrings were known as a ‘parure’.

🔎 Beetle parure and case. Gold, silk, leather, wood, and weevils, from London, England, made around1884–1885. Read more: https://ow.ly/uPHm50P7lwr

11/07/2023

~Victoria Street ~

This is Victoria Street in Edinburgh, one of the most picturesque streets in the city. This street inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter novels and there are a couple of Harry Potter shops to remind tourists of this street’s claim to fame.
It does have a bit of dark history, though. One of the more bizarre and less well-known inhabitants of this street was Major Thomas Weir (1599-1670). Thomas was a soldier in the Army of the Covenant and, therefore, he professed a strict form of Presbyterianism. He eventually earned the rank of major, before retiring. After his retirement, he fell ill in 1670 and confessed to having led a life of crime. He stated that his crimes ranged from witchcraft to in**st and be******ty. We will never know if his confession was true but he was prosecuted, found guilty, and eventually executed. Due to his confession of practicing sorcery and the Occult, he has been nicknamed “The Wizard of the West Bow.” His home stood on Victoria Street and it was said that the house was enchanted by one of the Wizard’s spells, which made people ascending the stairs of his home think that they were descending the stairs in the opposite direction. Major Weir’s home was also considered to be haunted.
Major Thomas Weir was the last man to be executed for witchcraft in Scotland.

10/05/2023

📖 Book of the Month! 📖

Did you know we have over 4000 books in our library at Drum Castle? 👀

Our team of volunteers will be providing a peek between the pages and sharing their favourite weird and wonderful literary finds!

The picture below is an illustration from the 'Botanic Garden Vol 1 & 2' – Erasmus Darwin (1799)

Not as well-known as his famous biologist grandson, Charles, Erasmus Darwin wrote these volumes as two poems first published in 1791. Filled with wonderfully imaginative illustrations, this page shows a ‘Tartarian Lamb’, a mythical plant from which lambs were said to be born! 🐑

We can't wait to show you even more fascinating discoveries from our beautiful Library!

We are currently open Thursday to Monday 10:30 - 16:00 so why not come and have a guided tour? 🏰

09/04/2023

Happy National Unicorn Day! 🦄

The Unicorn is Scotland’s national animal and has been for 900 years. The unicorn symbolizes innocence, purity, healing, and power. A perfect national animal for a land that is steeped in legend and myth.

I hope you get a chance to do something unicorn-esque today 😅. Hint: do something ”uni”que!

09/04/2023

08/04/2023

This article is from 2015 but pretty cool to think that my beloved place of work - Drum Castle - is home to the oldest intact staircase in Scotland and one of the oldest in the world. It’s 600 years old, going back to the 1400s!

A crucial section of an Aberdeenshire castle has been brought into the light for the first time in centuries, bringing with it more than 800 years of

08/04/2023

, dating back to 6 April 1320 and is still considered one of 's most important artefacts.
"As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."

02/04/2023

The only inscription inside the Chapel reads ‘Wine is Strong. The King is stronger. Women are stronger still; but truth conquers all.’

02/04/2023

A Book from the Astronomical Library of Mary, Queen of Scots. ❤️ This rare book was once used by Mary Queen of Scots as part of her study of Astronomy: ‘Astronomique Discourse’ and was written in 1557 by Scotsman James Bassantin (c. 1500–68), Lyon, Par Jan de Tournes. On the cover of the book is a crown and Mary’s initial M. The book is an illustrated, large compendium on calculating planetary positions. During her lifetime, Mary Queen of Scots created a vast library, distributed between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood, containing hundreds of books that she brought back to Scotland on her return from France in 1561. Her extensive collection included Arthurian Legends and Romances, Astrology, the Golden Legend, and Evangelical Writings by Erasmus. Mary showed her true desire to conciliate religious dissension, and was an advocate for religious tolerance. Following Mary's capture, her half-brother the Regent Murray, issued a warrant for the delivery of Mary's books to his confidential secretary. He personally dismantled the Royal Apartments, seizing her books, and committed several of them to the flames...