| TRAQUAIR HOUSE  Traquair House is the oldest, continually inhabited house in Scotland. The house is open to the public. The first recorded instance of the King staying in the house was when Alexander I used the Traquair Estate and Lodges as his hunting playground in 950; parts of the current building claim existence since 1107. The Roseline traverses through the Traquair Estate. The current owners of the Traquair Estates are the Maxwell-Stuart Family, who can trace their own family-tree back to the Royal Stuart bloodlines. Before the barony of Traquair became the property of the Stewarts, it belonged to a family of Murrays, and ancestors of the Murrays of Cockpool at Ruthwell. A charter, proceeding upon forfeiture, was granted by the crown. Dated the 3rd February, 1478, it conveys the estate of Traquair to James Stewart, Earl of Buchan, son of the Black Knight of Lorne, and maternal uncle to James III. In 1491, James Stewart became the first Lord of Traquair. Lord Traquair, along with King James IV and the majority of the Scottish nobility, lost his life at the battle of Flodden, in 1513. John Stewart, who was the fourth Lord of Traquair was also the “Captain” of the Queen’s bodyguard; whose job remit was to protect his blood relation, Mary Queen of Scots. Mary I of Scotland was monarch of the then Kingdom of Scotland from 1542 to 1567; her first husband was Francois II of France. They married in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in April 1558. After the marriage Mary changed her spelling of Stewart to Stuart as there was no ‘W’ in the French alphabet. In 1559 Mary’s husband succeeded his father Henry II of France to the throne, thus making Mary Queen of France as well as Scotland. Henry’s rein was short, the young King died in 1560 from a poisonous ear infection which penetrated his brain. The brave, Catholic Queen Mary returned to Scotland the following year, now officially recognised as a protestant country, after seemingly irretrievable religious reforms led by acrimonious priest, John Knox; who took the lead in reforming the Church in Scotland along Calvinist lines. The Scottish Protestant church acknowledged Mary’s Roman Catholic faith and informed council that they had no objections at the time. Indeed the young Queen’s re-admission was met with a warm friendly welcome. At the Palace of Holyrood House on July 29th, 1565, Mary married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, her secound cousin. The marriage sparked a range of passions, hope, violent fury, disregard and contempt. Queen Elizabeth I (also Mary’s cousin) saw this union as a threat to her English Throne as both Darnley and Mary were descendants of Margaret Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII. Their children would inherit both parents’ claims to the throne and thus be next in line to the English throne. In 1566 the barren Queen Elizabeth’s annullis horribilus arrived with news of Mary’s pregnancy. International implications of a complicated complexion. Mary’s baby, James was to become the first King of England and the VI of Scotland. Traquair House was temporary home to the Royal Staurt family, late on in 1566. Visitors can affectionately view the endearing rocking cradle of baby James in the Kings bedroom. The seventh Lord of Traquair was appointed to become the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland (Chancellor). His services were recognised, and consequently the title of 1st Earl of Traquair followed in 1628. The ambitious Earl added a number of extensions to the house and was responsible for altering the course of the Tweed, periods of high rainfall had threatened to flood the ground level of the house. The second Earl married the devout Roman Catholic, Lady Ann Seton; their children were preached to by their own priest and teacher with a room allocated for the services that had a deviously designed hidden stairway. The family's ties with the ejected Stuart King James VII/II made their house a sanctuary for political and religious activists. A number of raids were coordinated on the house. The family priest was inducted to perform a number of secret weddings with the family to keep their faith and traditions alive. The same theme was repeated through the intermittent reign of the Stuarts, in the early 1700’s the fourth Earl of Traquair was held prisoner in Edinburgh Castle as an ardent Jacobite sympathiser. The family were exalting their influences again in the 1715 uprising. Traquair House owners were again instrumental in the final 1745-46 Jacobite uprising. The fifth Earl of Traquair helped Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Army, encouraging part of the fighting force to use the welcoming hospitality and its facilities.  When the Young Pretender marched his body of men out of the famous main entrance known as the Bear Gates at Traquair in 1745 the Earl made a binding vow: “The Bear gates remain locked until a Stuart returns to power!” The Jacobite cause was still supported by many Highland clans both Catholic and Protestant, on 21st September 1745 Charles’ army defeated the Government forces at the battle of Prestonpans. With Scotland secure, his 6000 strong Army headed towards England. They captured Carlisle and progressed as far as Derby only to return back to Scotland, due to lack of support. With dejected and dispirited troops, who had been promised English Jacobite reinforcements that did not materialise. The Jacobite Army’s low morale led to disheartened disputes. By now Charles was being pursued by King George II’s son, the Duke of Cumberland, who caught up with him at Culloden on 16th April, 1746. Charles’ troops were sent out in the dead of night to take the Government Army by surprise, but an extremely dark night and difficult marshy ground led to the abandonment of the idea. The next morning tired and disorganised Jacobite troops marched into battle, only to be “taken out” by the superior fire power of the Red Coat's cannons and muskets. The final brave restoration attempt to recapture the Stuart throne lay mutilated within the heather bogs of Culloden Moor. Young Charles escaped to Skye with the help of Flora McDonald, his retrogression into obscurity was complete when he managed to evade capture and left the country aboard the French frigate L’Heureux, arriving back in France in September 1746. He remained in exile in Italy and is buried in the crypt of Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Cumberland’s wrath after the battle was remorseless. He determined to wip  e out the identity and nucleus of the Jacobite supporters. Leading Clansmen and their wives were savagely butchered leaving a haunting legacy that has its own residual living presence within the Glens. Further stringent retributions and constitutional reforms were inflicted on the Jacobites after 1745-6; British authorities acted to destroy the Scottish Clan system. All aspects of highland culture, includeding wearing tartan, playing bagpipes and the Gaelic language itself, were forbidden; the death penalty was enforced on any transgressors. Highlanders were compulsorily conscripted to serve in the British Army, whose ferocious appetite for fighting men was infinite due to the expanding British Empire. Traquair Estate’s previousy high status yielded to a more impotent reverence, the Earldom of Traquair died out in 1875, as no male successor was immanent, reinstating the title of Lord of Traquair. In 1899 Henry Constable Maxwell Stuart ascribed to become the 17th Lord of Traquair. At the start of the Second World War the 19th Lord was installed, Frank Maxwell Stuart, he was the instrumental force behind the first public viewing in 1953; sharing some of his family’s treasures and previous national secrets. Traditions are interwoven with Traquair, the 21st Lady of Traquair, Catherine Maxwell Stuart, her husband and three children manage, preserve and nurse this somewhat cherished, yet dark episode of Scottish history at Traquair House.  Today visitors can visit, or have a reminiscent over night stay in Traquair House; following 27 Scottish monarchs who have enjoyed the Maxwell Stuart family’s hospitality. A 200 year old micro brewery is located on the North wing of the house with some award winning oak fermented beer to sample. A shop and museum are also located within the grounds and guided tours around the treasure trove house are recommended. Mary Queen of Scots bedroom can be viewed and some stunning Jacobite crystal is on display; a highly prodigious Unicorn sculpture adorns the collection. Catching the eye or attention is the impressive assemblage of Royal “Auld Alliance” memorabilia. The Fleur-De-Lys symbol stands out as if projecting a message and is prominent in almost every room.  Outside the house children can play in one of the U.K’s most distinguished mazes; planted in 1984 for Lady Catherine’s 21st anniversary. The well manicured hedge stands an imposing 10 feet tall, adults have been known to get lost as well! In August is the Traquair Fair weekend, where a variety of “New Age” entertainers converge to entertain the public with theatre, live music, children’s entertainment, dancers and, of course, locally brewed beer. Everyone revels in the carnival atmosphere. This tradition can trace its roots back to the travelling people, who were allocated temporary ground when passing through Traquair Estate by the generous hearted Stuarts. This theme was repeated further up the Roseline at the Gypsy Glen in Roslin, the Sinclair’s allocated a site in return for various labour and spiritual favours. The gypsies were renowned clairvoyants and story tellers; the origins of the name Brown (Brownies) herald from the travelling people. A folkloric tale that reinforces the enchanting enigma of Traquair is the story of the long lost treasure of the Jacobite Gold. The “Forty-Fivers” army recruits were inspired on their Stuart cause, in the belief that their brave efforts were to be rewarded with a fair share of the Jacobite Gold coins that were reputed to be last seen on display at Traquair. Speculation regarding the whereabouts of the haul was resurgent recently in the area, when an empty Jacobite chest was found locally, consequently the rising fever for local bounty could be encased in “Traquair Gold Ale”. |
