The Queen Mary Room

This recently renovated room boasts a beautiful mahogany four poster bed, and new ensuite bathroom. This bright room has three windows overlooking the front lawn, one with a 16th Century stained glass panel, and a fourth window looking towards the tower.

This room is named the Queen Mary Room in honour of Archibald Craufurd, who was Secretary to both Queen Mary of Scots, and her mother, Mary of Guise. Archibald Craufurd was a Lord of Session, Secretary and Almoner to Mary of Guise, Regent, 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, Mary Queen 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.  Riotous 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 of 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.