TRAQUAIR is set to celebrate its strong Jacobite links from next week.

TRAQUAIR is set to celebrate its strong Jacobite links from next week.

But it won'’t be throwing open the gates.

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the first major Jacobite rebellion.

The Old Pretender James Francis Edward Stuart attempted to regain the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland during a bloody 1715.

And he was widely supported by many prominent families from Scottish lowlands - including the Stuarts of Traquair.

Catherine Maxwell-Stuart, the current lady laird of Traquair, told us: "“The Stuarts of Traquair were prominent Jacobite supporters as were their close relations, the Nithsdales.

“The stories of these families include a dramatic escape from the Tower of London, the closing of the famous Bear Gates until the return of a Stuart King and an intricate system of secret communication including an unbroken coded letter will all be revealed during the tercentennary celebrations.” Although the 1715 uprising began successfully it was eventually quashed by the forces of George 1, led by the Duke of Argyll.

Eventually the Old Pretender sailed from Montrose amidst defeat the following year.

His son, Charles Edward Stuart, returned to these shores to try again some 30 years later.

Despite the failed attempts to claim the throne, Traquair has remained loyal to the cause.

And even today those Bear Gates remain closed.

From Monday an exhibition, A Jacobite Story, will run at Traquair House through until September 30.

Many rarely displayed documents and letters from the Traquair Archives telling the story of the Stuarts’ involvement in the rebellion and the Nithsdale escape along with a collection of contemporary Jacobite jewellery by Josephine Conkie will be dusted down for the exhibition.

The exhibition will also include a loan from the Drambuie Collection of Jacobite glass that will complement Traquair’s own outstanding collection.

On Saturday, June 13 there will be a Traquair Harpsichord & Lute Recital.

It’s a special chance to see the Jacobite exhibition after hours and attend a recital on the Traquair Harpsichord and Lute by Jan Waterfield and Jamie Akers.

The Traquair Harpsichord dates from 1651 and has been recently restored. This will be the first time it has been played in public in over 20 years.

A Jacobite Detective Trail, which has been linked to the exhibition, will encourage children to discover the many Jacobite secrets hidden in the house.

And Secret Symbols and Hidden Meanings will be the subject of a Jacobite talk with Murray Pittock at the Beyond Borders International Festival on the August 22 and 23.

To conclude the Jacobite celebration there will be a Jacobite Ghost Tour on October 30 and 31 as well as November 6 and 7.