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The newsletter also reflected that many changes had taken place over the years in the way groups have been escorted at Edinburgh Castle. ‘Originally the Precincts were free, with a small charge made for visiting the Apartments,’ it said.
‘(English speaking) guides were never permitted to lecture inside the Apartments, but gave the lecture outside each of the rooms in turn and waited for the return of the groups from one room before continuing to the next,’ it said.
‘The exception were foreign language guides who always guided in the castle and the palace. In 1973 this system changed to one way with a chain across Crown Square where tickets had to be produced and where no guide entered.
The full-time permits were reduced from 28 to 20 with 10 floating permits and guides had to sign a book on each visit with a group. The following year a directive was given from the Information Officer at the Castle that guides had to inform the Area Superintendent when they were bringing a group to the Castle, so that a Castle Guide would be ready to conduct the party around.
In 1975 all guides were asked to fill in papers at home about their knowledge of the castle and 25 permits would be given for a year to the guides who visited the castle most frequently and who passed the written test. Guides were advised to read Grants Old and New Edinburgh volume one.
The newsletter reported: ‘Before this was carried out a Special Meeting of members was held when it was decided not to co-operate until counsel’s opinion was sought on the legal position of members of the Association having freedom to conduct touring parties round the castle precincts. All were advised not to return completed test papers.’
Below is the controversial test paper.
Edinburgh Castle Test Paper
1. How would you introduce the Castle to indicate its peculiar importance and range of interest? (Quote in full what you might actually say to a party of visitors).
2. List the historical events which, in your judgement, deserve the most emphasis in the course of the Castle tour.
3. List the buildings to which you would draw particular attention.
4. Quote in full what you might actually say about:
(a)Three of these events.
(b)Three of the buildings
5. Write a brief essay(one side of foolscap) on one of the following:
Either (a) It is difficult to present to visitors the dramatic story of the Castle in the Middle Ages because the appearance of all the
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