Mar's Wark

Mar's Wark was built as a townhouse by John Erskine, the 1st Earl of Mar, Regent of Scotland and keeper of Stirling Castle.

When visiting the top of town, it is hard to miss the façade of Mar's Wark. Sitting next to the Church of the Holy Rude, just down the road from Stirling Castle, it is the most intriguing building.

Erskine was granted the Earldom of Mar in 1565 by Mary Queen of Scots. The following year, he became Sheriff of Stirlingshire and Keeper of Stirling Castle, and then the year after that, he became the keeper of Mary's son, James.

It all went terribly wrong when Mary fell out with her husband for murdering her secretary, and then he himself was murdered. Bothwell, was said to have orchestrated it, but he was acquitted, and he became Mary's third husband. There followed an uprising against the couple, of which Mar was one, and Mary was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle. In 1567, Mary was forced to abdicate in favour of her son James, and the thirteen month old James was crowned King of Scotland, all while Mar was his custodian.

Spending all of his time in Stirling, Erskine needed a home close to his work which reflected his position. So he built Mar's Wark between 1569 and 1572, in a Renaissance style as his main family residence.

The two storey ruin was probably a three story townhouse when it was built. It has two octagonal towers to the left, and between them is the main gate. Along the front of the building are vaulted basements, each with it's own a window and door. These were probably used as shops.

Erskine may well have requested the skills of the 'Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland', William MacDowall, as the building bears many similarities James V Palace at Stirling Castle.

Some of the carved stone may have been pinched from nearby Cambuskenneth Abbey.

The front of Mar's Wark is adorned with her Erskine heraldry symbols and the following translated inscriptions:

Above the arch between the towers - 'See, speak forth and spare not, consider well, I care not'

South tower (Below left) - 'I pray all lookers on this lodging, with gentle eye to give their judging'

North tower (Below right) - 'The more I stand on open height, my faults more subject are to sight'

There is also a number of gargoyles on the front of the building.

Near the top of the wall, in the centre of the building, is the figure of woman who is bound by criss-crossed ropes. This is Joan of Arc, who was joined by Scottish soldiers during her campaign against the English.

Erskine died in October 1572, so it's highly unlikely that he saw the completed Mar's Wark. His wife, the Countess Annabella of Mar, remained using the building after her husbands death.

In 1584, the Earls of Mar and Angus seized the castle and Mar's Wark, but they soon surrendered and fled to England. The Earl of Gowrie was held at Mar's Wark, at that point it was referred to as 'Lady Mar's House', while awaiting his trial.

In 1593, the pregnant Anne of Denmark, stayed at Lady Mar's House, until her rooms in castle were ready.

In 1595, a banquet for the marriage of the king's mistress Anne Murray and Lord Glamis was held at Lady Mar's House.

During the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, Mar's Wark was converted into barracks. Then during the Second Rebellion of 1745, it was damaged by cannon fire. The building slowly fell into ruin and it's own stone was pinched for use elsewhere.

Behind the imposing façade, is somewhat of a shock. While the front of the building is mostly in tact, behind is what remains of the shell of the building.

The rear of the building backs onto Stirling Old Town Cemetery. The area between the back of the building and the Valley Cemetery, is now the Mar's Wark Cemetery.

There is a large car park at Stirling Castle which is just up the road. There is plenty more to explore nearby, maybe take a walk around Stirling Old Town Cemetery, or if you have plenty of time why not visit Stirling Castle.

Mar's Wark is a Scheduled Monument with Historic Environment Scotland.