Janet Beaton

Overview and Issue

An article on how a coffee table book came about on places in Scotland associated with Mary, Queen of Scots.
WG060

Article on how the author came to believe from her research into the Earl of Bothwell's relationships, that Janet Beaton had not been treated accurately or well by historians. She set out to correct what she believes to be many incorrect assumptions and subsequently turned her research into a Play. "Her second cousin was the controversial Cardinal Beaton, confidant of Mary of Guise; her younger Sister became a mistress of the young James V and bore him a daughter....Janet's sister Grizel married Wat's son by his first wife, William, and the four of them appear in the Lymond saga. The circumstances of Will's death are not recorded and Dorothy Dunnett has let her wonderful imagination run riot. But Walter's death at the hands of the Kerrs and their adherents is well documented. A few years later. Janet rode at the head of two hundred men of the family of Scott 'armed in war-like fashion' to the Kirk of St Mary's of the Lowes in pursuit of a conspirator in Wat's murder. They burned the church and the priest barely escaped with his life. Once again Janet's connections at court stood her in good stead. for Mary of Guise stopped proceedings against her."

B&W illustration of Alkwood House. A visit to Alkwood (mentioned in DK by its former name, Oakwood), the 16th c tower lovingly restored by Judy and her husband, former MP David Steel, is well worth visiting. Now a family home, it houses an exhibition on the work of James Hogg, 'the Ettrlck Sbepherd, as well as having a delightful garden recreated in medieval style. It's open to the public on certain days during the week in the summer. Check opening times on 0175052253. Situated in glorious Border country near St Mary's Loch, It's on the B7009 approached either from Selkirk or from Ettrick Bridge from St Mary's Loch.