From royal hunting lodges to Jacobite plots, from Catholic chapels hidden in a Protestant land to enduring family traditions, the story of Traquair House is a rich tapestry woven through the centuries. Today, it remains the beloved home of the Maxwell Stuart family, direct descendants of those who lived there in the 15th century, making it a rare jewel of continuity in the modern age.
Early beginnings: A royal hunting lodge
The earliest documented history of Traquair dates to 1107, when Alexander I of Scotland is believed to have used the location as a royal hunting lodge. This region of the Borders was then thick with forests and teeming with game, making it an ideal site for a king’s leisure pursuits. Traquair’s Gaelic name, “treabh-choire,” is thought to mean “hamlet on the winding stream,” an apt description of its setting on the banks of the River Tweed.
Over the next centuries, successive Scottish monarchs continued to visit. Charters from the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) mention Traquair, and the estate was firmly under royal possession through much of the medieval period. Its position near the English border also meant that it played a strategic role, witnessing the comings and goings of armies, raiders, and royal progresses. shutdown123