Mary Queen of Scots

Mary arrived at Sheffield Castle on Nov 28 1570 age 28 having travelled from Chatsworth. It would be 14 long years before she left Sheffield. The Castle would always be her main prison as it was the most secure being a 300 year old medieval castle built on bedrock and surrounded by the Don and the Sheaf. George Talbot had been requesting a move to Sheffield from early into his custodianship of Mary. He had been unsettled by proposed escape attempts and plots to put Mary on the throne of England.

Within 6 months of arriving in Sheffield, the Ridolfi plot was hatched but Sir Frances Walsingham, discovered the plot and the ringleaders executed, The main beneficiaries were the Duke of Norfolk who was subsequently executed and Mary, who thanks to Elizabeth, was spared the axe. However, George Talbot was given new instructions on how to look after Mary.

Her entourage was to be reduced from 40 to 15 and her quarters reduced in size. She had to give 1 hours notice to leave her quarters for basic exercise. This severe confinement would go on for year in, year out with only brief remission periods much to detriment of Mary’s health.

Mary was very closely guarded-in fact George Talbot paid for an extra 40 soldiers out of his own pocket after the Ridolfi plot had been discovered. Mary disliked the guards intensely especially as they changed them at 5 am in the morning and beat the drums very close to her bedroom door. She did not go to bed until about 1 am in the morning.

It was always intended to go to Sheffield Manor Lodge and this commenced in April 1573. The Castle and the Lodge were linked by a beautiful avenue of walnut trees which arched over allowing no daylight through but more importantly no rain to penetrate. This was most important as when “sweetening” i.e. cleansing took place the artefacts did not get wet. Sweetening was the most important reason why Mary was moved from place to place. Whilst based in Sheffield, she visited Chatsworth on 7 occasions, Buxton 7 times and Worksop Manor twice. They would go for a month or two at a time and come back to base Sheffield either the Castle or Manor Lodge. From 1573, Manor Lodge was used every year until 1584 apart from 1575 when they went direct to Chatsworth from the Castle.