Skip to main content

Welcome to Mary of Guise: An event to mark the plaque celebrating the Queen of Scotland's connection to the New College Site

Ticket sales for this event are now closed.

Location

The event will begin with the unveiling of the Mary of Guise cast in the entrance to the New College quad. This will be followed by short talks and a drinks reception in the Rainy Hall.

Event Description

The event will include short talks by Professor Jane Dawson (on the place of Mary of Guise in Scottish history and her relationship with John Knox) and artist Tim Chalk (on the creative process behind creating a piece of bronze artwork). The event will start at 3.30 at the plaque itself, then move into the Rainy Hall for the talks and a drinks reception (we expect to finish around 5.15).

A French noblewoman and wife of James V, Mary of Guise was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and ruled Scotland on behalf of her daughter from 1554 until her death in 1560. During her regency, she did all she could to advance the interests of her daughter, to maintain the Franco-Scottish alliance, and to reassert the power of the Scottish crown. Her relations with Scottish Reformer John Knox (whose statue also graces the New College courtyard) were extremely strained. Her royal palace was on the site of New College.