16th Century, Mary Queen of Scots, four-poster bed unveiled
Posted: Jul 15, 2007
A 16th century bed, reputedly slept in by Mary Queen of Scots, was unveiled as Lennoxlove House, one of Scotland’s premier historic country homes, reopened on 18th July 2007 offering luxury private accommodation for the first time.
Made of solid black oak and beautifully refurbished, the bed is thought to be used by the much persecuted Mary when under guard at Arden Hall in North Yorkshire. A four poster, it is intricately carved and has been restored to the magnificent comfort and style that befitted a monarch at the time. It is draped in long, deep red velvet curtains which have been embroidered in the exact style of the Tudor times, replicating many of the embroideries known to have been stitched by Mary herself.
Christine Senior, an embroiderer commissioned to refurbish the Mary Queen of Scots bed, explained,
“In the 16th century and you were of a certain social standing, you literally travelled with your bed. As a result, they were made exceptionally well and the framework of this bed is as it was four hundred years ago. The refurbishment has focussed on the fabrics and their embroideries to give a truly authentic experience.” “What is particularly interesting about the embroideries is their design. Because Mary was constantly moved, she only ever embroidered small pieces. Examples of ones we have researched symbolically showed Queen Elizabeth as a tabby cat, with Mary as the mouse that Elizabeth played with. Another shows a hand holding a pruning hook cutting the young unfruitful branches from a vine, to suggest that the unfruitful branch of the royal house should, likewise, be cut down. On the bed’s front canopy we have replicated one that we know Mary did: it sets out all the letters of her name, Mary Stuart. Others are in her style or the style of the time.””Lennoxlove House touches on so many important episodes of Scotland’s history and the collections on show here reflect family intrigues and political skulduggery. And yet it is not a museum, it is a home. Refurbishing the bed as it would have been four hundred years ago, so that people can sleep in it today adds to that unique character of this unique House.”
Remarkably, set in The Lady’s Bower, a room within Lennoxlove’s original 14th century tower and one of 11 newly created luxury suites, it is available for guests to sleep in and not just admire. It also typifies the extensive conservation and renovation at Lennoxlove House which blends modern comfort with centuries’ old architectural features.
The seat of the Dukes of Hamilton and home to some of Scotland’s finest art held in a private collection, the transformation of the House into private accommodation also includes hand-blocked wallpaper from France, Colefax and Fowler fabrics, a discreet butler service and helicopter landing facilities and many other touches that will make this one of the most exclusive and unique places to stay in Scotland.
In the restored House, every bedroom and state room is different in character and style with wonderful views on to the Lammermuir Hills, across the 460 acre estate, or on to the sunken Lorimer garden.
The general manager at Lennoxlove said:
“Lennoxlove House touches on so many important episodes of Scotland’s history and the collections on show here reflect family intrigues and political skulduggery. And yet it is not a museum, it is a home. Refurbishing the Mary Queen of Scots bed as it would have been four hundred years ago, so that people can sleep in it today adds to that unique character of this unique House.” “Blending the architectural and history character of the house with modern comfort, the highest quality interiors, and state of the art facilities, has been critical to the success of the venture. The rooms simply drip with history and style.”She added:
“The house can be hired on an exclusive basis and guests can rest assured that they can relax in luxurious privacy. We will ensure that your well-being is our top priority. The butler will run baths, turn down beds and even place a bedtime story on your pillow. Organising shopping trips to Harvey Nichols, or a round of golf at the nearby prestigious Archerfield Links can be arranged. Lennoxlove is, above all, about service, style and seclusion.