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The Douglases and Drumlanrig

The Douglas family has been associated with Drumlanrig since the 14th Century when William, the son of James, 2nd Earl of Drumlanrig (who died at Otterburn in 1388) became 1st Laird of Drumlanrig.

For generations the Douglas family was close to the monarchy. Their strong relationship withstood the test of difficult times and benefited both monarchy and Douglas family alike.

The relationship was not without its stormy element, however. James Douglas was one of the lords involved in driving Mary Queen of Scots out of the country in 1567. Yet, in spite of this, matters were to improve: Mary's son, James VI and I, visited Drumlanrig in 1617.

Matters continued to improve for the Douglas family. William, 3rd Earl of Queensberry, was a loyal and reliable servant of Charles II and his successors. Created 1st Duke of Queensberry in 1684, William resolved to build a home in keeping with his status. The result was Drumlanrig Castle, a tribute to the vision of its builder and to the successive members of the Douglas family who have preserved Drumlanrig Castle for posterity in all its beauty and grandeur.

Read the story of how the Winged Heart became the symbol of the Douglas Family and check out the history of The Douglas Family in more detail.

View the Montagu Douglas Scott's Family Tree

Maintaining the stonework of the 17th Century Castle is an ongoing process. Read how our expert stonemasons are Preserving our Heritage.