Traquair House
Encyclopedia
Peebles
Peebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.-History:...
, is claimed to be the oldest continually inhabited house
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is built in the style of a fortified mansion, and not strictly a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
. It predates the Scottish Baronial style of architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, and may have been one of the influences on this style.
It is built on the site of a hunting seat used by the Scottish kings from the 12th century, though no part of the present building can be dated with certainty before the 15th century.
The house is open to the public and counts among its features:
- The Bear Gates, which were last closed in 1745 by the Jacobite army marching South to England. Tradition states they will not be opened until a StuartHouse of StuartThe House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
again sits on the Scottish Throne. - Traquair House Brewery which brews the Traquair Ales
- A bed said to have been slept in by Mary, Queen of Scots.
- A recently planted, but now mature, garden maze.
- An annual Traquair Fair, held on the first weekend in August.
- Relics of Mary, Queen of Scots and the JacobitesJacobitismJacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
. - The Museum Room has a mural on one wall dating from about 1530, one of the oldest to survive in a secular building in Scotland.
- The house was the location for the 1969 film, The Ballad of Tam LinTam-Lin (film)Tam-Lin, also known as The Ballad of Tam-Lin, The Devil's Widow and The Devil's Woman, is a 1970 British film made by Commonwealth United Entertainment, Winkast Film Productions Ltd. and distributed by American International Pictures . It was directed by Roddy McDowall and produced by Alan Ladd, Jr...
, starring Ava GardnerAva GardnerAva Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
.
The Traquair House Brewery brews several ales which are thought to be some of the best examples of Scotch 'Wee Heavy' strong ales.
See also
- Earl of TraquairEarl of TraquairEarl of Traquair was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Stewart, Lord Stewart of Traquair. He had already been created Lord Stewart of Traquair in 1628 and was made Lord Linton and Caberston at the same time as he was given the earldom. These titles were also in the...