Traquair House will be commemorating the tricentennary of the 1715 Jacobite Uprising with a programme of events, concert and exhibition that will highlight the Traquair Jacobite connection.
The Stuarts of Traquair and their close relations, the Nithsdales were strong Jacobite supporters and their involvement in the ’15 led to the Earl of Nithsdale being captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. His courageous wife engineered a daring escape smuggling her husband out dressed in a servants’ cloak.
An exhibition at Traquair House (June- September) will bring together rarely displayed documents and letters from the Traquair Archives telling the story of the Stuarts’ involvement in the rebellion and the Nithsdale escape along with a collection of contemporary Jacobite jewellery.
Traquair will also host a superb collection of Jacobite Glass on loan from the Drambuie collection that will be shown alongside Traquair’s own collection. These superbly crafted eighteenth century glasses and drinking vessels all contain cryptic symbols and messages that depict allegiance to the exiled Stuart kings.
Another highlight of the summer will be a concert in the house which will include early music from the Stuart court played on the Traquair Harpsichord made by Andreas Ruckers in 1651. This will be the first time it has been played in nearly 20 years after careful restoration.
In August, as part of the Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought prominent historians will debate the significance of the Jacobites and their place in Scotland’s history.
Throughout the year there will be a Jacobite theme running throughout all the Traquair events including a Jacobite visitation to the Traquair Medieval Fayre (24/25 May) and Children’s Jacobite detective hunt in the grounds.
For more information please contact the office on 01896 830323 or email enquiries@traquair.co.uk