“Did someone say peacocks?” you might ask, a touch of whimsy in your voice. Well, here at Prestonfield, they’re not just a rumor! Right before us, rising from those emerald lawns, stands Prestonfield House. This grand dame, built in 1687, has seen it all. Imagine, the King’s own architect, Sir William Bruce, fresh from finishing Holyrood Palace, designed this masterpiece. This was no ordinary home, mind you. Prestonfield House was the private haven of Sir James Dick, Edinburgh’s influential Lord Provost. For centuries, the Dick family held court here. Then, in a twist worthy of a period drama, it transformed into a hotel in 1958. But the story doesn’t end there. In 2003, a certain James Thomson – a man known for his dramatic flair and a touch of magic (he’s the mastermind behind the Witchery, after all) – took the reins. He breathed new life into Prestonfield, draping it in opulence and restoring it to its former glory. So, while those peacocks strutting the grounds may turn heads, remember, you’re standing on ground steeped in history, touched by royalty, and graced with a touch of the extraordinary.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to