Traquair House

, Also called Traquair House Traquair Castle, is a Scottish country estate in the valley of the Tweed, about seven kilometers south of Peebles. It is sometimes said to be the oldest inhabited manor house in Scotland, but this can be difficult checked.

History

Traquair House was originally a hunting lodge of the Scottish kings. Proven it first visited King Alexander I in 1107. Was then for William I the favorite residence, where he signed the certificate of incorporation for a settlement called Bishop's Burgh on the banks of the Molendinar, later Glasgow.

After several changes of ownership gave it to James III. 1469 to William Rogers. From this in turn it was for the remarkable amount of 70 Scottish Mark ( about six euros ), sold to the uncle of the king, Hearty James. Its second son, James Stuart, became the first Laird of the current owners line. Mary Stuart ennobled the fourth Laird and appointed him captain of the bodyguard. He is said to have organized after the murder of her favorite, David Rizzio, her escape from Holyrood Palace to Dunbar. With Lord Darnley, the Queen was at Traquair guest. In this and in the following period, the owner made ​​numerous minor building alterations, without this leading to greater conversion of its external form. Due to their Catholic faith even after the end of the Stuart dynasty, the Lords of Traquair never came into the possession of appropriate funds to carry out extensive construction. Also were in 1688, destroyed in the Glorious Revolution, part of the property and its interior.

Architecture

The front of the castle presents a simple, massive, white plastered facade with only small, unbalanced child windows and a steep roof. Almost the only jewelry form spitzgiebelige roof bay windows and corner turrets. The oldest part of the house is a tower with a spiral staircase, which is but unrecognizable in the appearance of the ensemble.

Inside of Traquair to Wandegemälde local artists find with birds, vines and animals as motif. Towards the end of the 17th century was the fourth Earl two wings at the front of the house on or remodel. The thus created atrial gives the property a certain formal rigor.

Trivia

Traquair House is considered a " bastion of Jakobitentums " in Scotland. Not only maintains the owner's family and the Catholic faith is in the house a chapel, but it also hosts a number of Stuart memorabilia. Exhibits about a rosary of Mary Stuart, her crucifix and an embroidered by her bedspread.

Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have sought refuge on the estate, and in 1745 when he took leave of the fifth Earl, this is called the so-called Bärentor, Steekit Yetts, have closed. So since that day that gate remains closed and is only to be opened again when in London a Stuart king ascends the throne. In addition to these historical connections, the house has become known for the locally brewed in the Traquair House Ale Brewery in recent years.