26th. July 2012

Craufurdland Castle

Society member Myra McLanaghan has sent in the following article regarding Craufurdland Castle and letters of Mary, Queen of Scots.

"I wonder if anyone saw the recent programme on Channel 4 called "Country House Rescue"?  It was Craufurdland Castle at Kilmarnock (above) – during the introduction of the programme it talked of its history (built in 1245) namely William Wallace etc. and then it casually showed letters from Mary, Queen of Scots. Ayrshire seems to have a few secrets up its sleeve regarding Mary. The owner, also in looking around his property found a poem from Robert Burns. I think this is a secret treasure trove of a place.  Found the followings little snippets;

“John Craufurd of Craufurdland, who upon his father's resignation got a charter under the Great Seal Johanni Craufurd juniori de Craufurdland, terrarium ecclesiaticarum de Kilbryde, &c in Ayrshire, dated Feb 1581. During his lifetime, probably due mainly due to his Great Uncle's (Archibald Craufurd) influence, got form Mary Queen of Scots a gift of the ward of the lands of Reidhall, lying within the Stewartry of Annandale. The deed of gift, having the signature attached to it, dated at Edinburgh 26th. December 1561, is held by the family.”

“Story of Archibald Craufurd (back up to the Boyds & Montgomerys);

Archibald Craufurd was a Lord of Session, Secretary and Almoner to Queen Mary of Guise, with whose corpse he was sent to France in 1560 to see it deposited in the Benedictine Monastery of St Peter at Rheims, where her sister was then Abbess. While in France, he got a commission from her daughter, Queen Mary of Scots, renewing him his office of Secretary and Almoner. The commission, supposed to be the first granted to a Scotsman, is dated Joinville in France, 17th. April 1561. 

Queen Mary, after her arrival in Scotland, August 1561, was permitted to worship in the chapel in Holyrood. Riots attacks were sometimes made upon the chapel and there was danger of it being rifled at any time the Queen was absent from Edinburgh. On account of this, the Queen on 11th. January 1562 directed Sir James Paterson (probably one of her officiating chaplains, and one of her loyal Knights) to deliver her Valet de Chambre, Servais de Conde, and the furniture of her Chapel , to be kept by Archibald, in the wardrobe in her palace at Edinburgh (The original Inventory of which is held by the family). 

When Queen Mary was taken to Castle of Lochleven, as a prisoner, she was spoiled of all of her princely ornaments, which the Lords took inventory. It appears , however she found means to send to Archibald further treasures from her table. He kept these faithfully until they were demanded from him by the then Treasurer, Mr Richard Richardson, who in turn delivered these to James Stewart, Regent. He in turn granted his acquaintance for the same to Archibald (the original which is held by the family.

In addition to his noble service to Queen Mary and her mother, Archibald was also responsible for the building of the West Church of Glasgow, and the |Bridge of Eaglesham. He died unmarried”