Tour Scotland 4K dreich early Autumn travel video, with Scottish music, of a short road trip drive up Spittal Street and St John Street to Mar Place on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to Stirling, Britain, United Kingdom. Dreich is a Scots word for dull and cloudy weather. Mar's Wark on Mar Place is a ruined building in Stirling built between 1570 and 1572 by John Erskine, Regent of Scotland and Earl of Mar who intended the building for the principal residence of the Erskine family in Stirling, whose chief had become hereditary keeper of the nearby royal Stirling Castle where the princes of Scotland were schooled. Wark is a Scots language word for work, and here it means building. The house is also called Mar's Lodging. The building fronts the kirk yard of the Holy Rude Church and sits at the head of the processional route to Stirling Castle above the town's tollbooth. The windowless front façade survives lacking its upper storey, access is possible to the first floor. The basement vaults have doors and windows to the street and may have been intended for shops. The general articulation and architectural mouldings closely reflect royal buildings, especially the palace at Stirling Castle. The Earl of Mar may well have called upon the skills of the royal Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland of the time, William MacDowall. John Erskine, Earl of Mar, died 28 October 1572, was a Scottish aristocrat and politician. He was the custodian of the infant King James VI of Scotland and Regent of Scotland. Erskine was a son of John, 5th Lord Erskine and Lady Margaret Campbell, a daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll. His father was a guardian of King James V and afterwards of Mary, Queen of Scots. John was Commendator of Dryburgh Abbey from 1547. He succeeded his father as 6th Lord Erskine in 1552. Erskine joined the religious reformers in 1559, but was never very ardent in the cause. He did subscribe to the letter asking the Calvinist reformer John Knox to return to Scotland in 1557. The custody of Edinburgh Castle was in his hands during the struggle between the regent, Mary of Guise, and the Lords of the Congregation, during which he appears to have acted consistently in the interests of peace. When Mary, Queen of Scots, returned to Scotland in 1561 Lord Erskine was a member of her council and was in favour of her marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. His wife was Annabella Murray, daughter of William Murray of Tullibardine and sister of William Murray of Tullibardine, Comptroller of Scotland in 1563. She was a frequent companion of Queen Mary. Mar was made Sheriff of Stirlingshire and Keeper of Stirling Castle and the parks of Raploch and Gallowhill on 18 July 1566. He became the keeper of Queen Mary's son, James, at Stirling Castle on 19 March 1567. He prevented the young prince from falling into the hands of Lord Bothwell, and when the Scottish nobles rose against Mary and Bothwell, Mar was one of their leaders. He took part in the government of Scotland when Mary was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle and abdicated. When Mary escaped from Lochleven, on 5 May 1568 Regent Moray ordered Mar to increase security at Stirling by reducing the number of retainers in the castle. On 5 September 1571 he was chosen Regent of Scotland, but he was overshadowed and perhaps slighted by James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton. One of Mar's first actions was to execute two prisoners, George Bell and George Calder, by having them broken on the wheel. He died at Stirling on 29 October 1572 after a short illness, widely agreed to have been natural causes. However, some sources indicate that he may have been poisoned at the behest of the Earl of Morton. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. When driving in Scotland slow down and enjoy the trip.
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