Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre

Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre is in the Borders Town of Jedburgh, 48 miles southeast of Edinburgh, 10 miles north of the Border with England at Carter Bar.

The Visitor Centre is open March – November 09.30 - 17.30 Mon to Sat, 10.00 - 15.00 Sun, Free admission. Postcode: TD8 6EN

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The image top is of the Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre on Queen Street in Jedburgh town centre.

The second image is of the Scenic Gardens at the rear of the House where there is the Base of an Ancient Cross.

The Garden contains a number of Pear Trees, of varieties grown centuries back in the area.

The House covers the History of Mary from her birth to death, with many notice boards containing text and images.

There are also letters, portraits, and needlework made by the Queen while in captivity. The top exhibit is her Death Mask, made from a cast taken after her execution at Fotheringhay Castle in England.

House History

1500s - the House was built as a Fortified House with a thatched roof, as raids over the Border were common at that time, so anyone with money in that area, lived in Houses built to withstand attacks by small raiding parties, known as Border Reivers.

1566 October - Mary Queen of Scots visited Jedburgh for a few weeks with her entourage to hold a Court in the Town. It is unclear what House she lived in, it may have been this House.

This turned out to be a time that changed the course of the History of the UK.

While at Jedburgh, Mary was informed James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, was injured fighting Border Reivers. The Queen and a small party then rode to visit Hepburn at his Hermitage Castle, 23 miles south of Jedburgh.

1567 February - the Earl of Bothwell was one of a few accused of murdering Mary Queen of Scots husband, Lord Darnley, in Edinburgh.

1567 May - Mary and Bothwell married in the Great Hall of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

1567 June - Mary was overthrown after the Battle of Carberry Hill, a Battle over Mary being accused of encouraging the Murder of her Husband.

Mary was then imprisoned at Loch Leven Castle, before escaping to England. She was then accused of plotting to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I of England.

1587 - Mary was Beheaded for Treason at Fotheringhay Castle on the orders of Elizabeth I. The Beheading did not go as planned, taking three blows of the axe to severe her head. Mary was then Buried at Peterborough Cathedral.

1603 - Elizabeth I of England died with her being buried in the Henry VII Chapel of Westminster Abbey in London. This led to the Son of Mary, King James VI of Scotland, becoming King of England and Scotland.

1612 - King James had the remains of his Mother transferred from Peterborough Cathedral to the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey, the same Chapel containing the remains of her cousin Elizabeth I.

1777 - the House in Jedburgh had become the home of Dr Lindsay and his wife Jean.

1787 - the Daughters of Dr Lindsay were guides for Robert Burns when he visited Jedburgh during his Tour of the Borders area. Burns lodged at No 27 Canongate, from 8th to 11th of May.

1928 - the House was bought by F. S. Oliver, Director of Debenhams, who was living in Edgerston Mansion House 8 miles south of Jedburgh.

1930 - the House was gifted to the Public by Mrs Oliver.

1987 - on the 400th anniversary of the death of Mary Queen of Scots, the House was opened as the Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre.

The roof of the House was changed to grey slate at an unknown time.