Mary Queen of Scots’ Bed
Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Traquair in 1566 but was this the bed she actually slept in on her visit? The answer is no. The bed actually came from Terregles House, home of the Maxwells which was demolished after the war and much of the furniture came to Traquair.
Mary was said to have slept in this bed when she stayed at Terregles House and parts of the bed which has an oak bed frame have been authenticated to the mid 1500’s.
The scallop shell on the frame is a Christian symbol that indicates a found or restored faith.
The history of the bed is also interesting as it was almost definitely used as a mourning bed in the mid 1600’s. It was common for mourning widows to drape their beds with dull black hangings and valances. The bed sheets were also dyed black. This accounts for the condition of the bed when it arrived at Traquair. Francis Maxwell Stuart, 19th Laird of Traquair, took on the task of bringing back the fabric to its original colour and also restoring the needlework on the head board with the help and direction of the Royal School of Needlework.