Traquair House

Traquair House near Peebles, is claimed to be the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland dating from 1107 and unaltered for over 300 years and was originally used as a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland. When Scotland became Protestant it became a refuge for Catholic priests with Masses held in a small room on the top floor, complete with secret staircase in case the priest needed to make a hasty exit. The Stuarts of Traquair supported the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite cause and so were consequently punished.

The fourth Laird of Traquair who was the Captain of the Queen's bodyguard hosted Mary Queen of Scots when she visited Traquair with her husband and baby son James in 1566. The cradle where she rocked the future King James 1 of England, her bed and some other possessions can still be seen in the house. The Laird allegedly told her arrogant husband, Lord Darnley, that he should treat his wife with more respect.

The fifth Earl of Traquair installed the Bear Gates at the top of the avenue in 1738 but they were only in use for six years and then according to legend, they were closed following a visit of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) The Earl believed that the Jacobite prince to be the rightful King of Scotland and he vowed the gates would never be opened again until a Stuart king was crowned in London and so they have been shut ever since.

Since the original 18th century domestic brewery equipment for producing beer for the house and estate workers was rediscovered in 1965 Traquair House Ale has been brewed in the original style.

This is part of an occasional series on places connected with the famous, but tragic, Mary Queen of Scots

(Mary Queen of Scots 6)