OS1/11/56/18A

Continued entries/extra info

14 Parish of Cranston Detached
[page] 18a

The lands of Cakemuir though disjoined from Cranston by the parish of
Crichton intervening belong to this parish. The ancient part of the mansion house
of Cakemuir consists of a square tower, four storeys high with bold projecting battle
-ments surrounding the roof. This building still entire and inhabitted is doubtless of
great antiquity. The extraordinary thick and massive walls as well as the style of
architecture shew the early age in which it was built. Though there is no certain
information when or by whom it was erected there is little doubt that it must h[ave]
been built by the Wauchopes of Cakemuir for they appear to have held the lands
at least for 300 years before they were purchased by the present proprietor
Mr. Mackay of Blackcastle. In the tower there is an apartment called Queen Mary
Room which it is said that unfortunate Princess occupied after having escaped
disguised in man's apparel from the Castle of Borthwick when that fortress was
invested in June 1567 by Lord Home and his confederates and before She
went to join her husband Bothwell at Dunbar. This tradition seems well for[m]
-ed. Various documents show that the lands in the immediate neighbourhood
formed part of the Lordship of Crichton which at the time referred belonged
to Bothwell Queen Mary's Husband; and that the Wauchopes of Cakemuir were Bothwell's

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Christine Y

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