Page 7 - Microsoft Word - The Constructor 2016 A5V28

The Master’s Year

Graeme had organised a very full itinerary which
started on the Friday evening with a visit to Mary King’s
Close, one of the myriad dwellings built both above
and below the level of the High Street. These
tenements extended up to 10 stories with 3 or 4
beneath the level of the street. There was no running
water or sewerage system, hence the expression
“gardyloo” a corruption of the French “gardez l’eau” or
“watch out for the water” when water was thrown out.
We were organised into groups of 10 to be guided
around the premises by people dressed in costumes of the period. Mary King’s Close took its name
from a certain Mary King, daughter of advocate Alexander King, who in the 17 Century had owned
th
several properties within the close. It was partially demolished and buried under the Royal
Exchange, but in 2003 it was opened to the public and is now a commercial tourist attraction that
capitalises on the tales of haunting that grew popular during the time in the early and middle part of
the 1900s when these “underground” tenements were hidden, and closed to the public.
After a good night’s rest and a full Scottish breakfast, we boarded a coach to visit Edinburgh Castle.
There we were again split into groups and given guided tours around the Castle before being left to
our own devices to go inside the many buildings that are within the Castle, which remains to this day
not only an important historic monument but also a working Army barracks. The highlight of the
visit was, for many of us, a visit to the Scottish crown jewels and St Margaret’s Chapel – probably the
oldest ecclesiastical building in Scotland, having been constructed in the 12 century.
th
After the tour around the Castle we all went our separate ways to see the other sights of Edinburgh,
or perhaps to indulge in a little retail therapy before making our own way back to the Malmaison
Hotel before changing into our finery for the “official” black-tie dinner that was held in the State
Dining Room on Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia.

Whilst Leith Docks were relatively close to the hotel,
we were treated to a coach to and from HMY Britannia.
On arrival at the Yacht we were greeted by a glass of
champagne and given a guided tour around the Yacht,
which was just like going back to the 1950’s. Even the
clocks on board were all stopped at just after 3pm,
which was the time that Her Majesty last left the Yacht.
It was stylishly decorated and fitted out, as would be
appropriate for HM the Queen’s private yacht, and
many of our company questioned the wisdom of its
de-commissioning.
The formal dinner on the Yacht was just unbelievable – service was impeccable, the menu delicious,
and a nice touch was that a small HMY Britannia pin was provided to everyone dining. Our formal
guests were Mrs Pat Denzler, the Master of the Company of Edinburgh Merchants and Mr Gregor
Murray, the Company’s Chamberlain and Secretary – the equivalent of our Clerk.

Autumn 2016 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | 7