Queen Mary’s Bath House-Edinburgh, Scotland

Queen Mary’s Bath House-Edinburgh, Scotland

Queen Mary’s Bath House in Edinburgh, is a beautiful turreted building, that lies abandoned on the boundary walls of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Canongate.

The quirky little 16th century house, has long been associated with Mary Queen of Scots.

Queen Mary had a short and turbulent reign, and her rise to power was quickly followed by a tragic downfall.

Her time in Edinburgh was constantly mired in rumours about adultery, murders, and plots in her court.

One of the more odd myths about Mary, was that many believed she would bathe in sweet white wine – in this very house.

Mary believed sweet white wine was good for maintaining her pale complexion, and also a form of pain relief.
We know she definitely used it as an astringent on her face.

But……..there are no official records that she actually bathed in wine.

In fact, there wasn’t a single account reported, that Queen Mary’s Bath House even had a bath inside!

Queen Mary’s Bath House is thought to have been built sometime in 1565, which is when Queen Mary was in power in Scotland.

During Mary’s time, Holyroodhouse Palace looked a lot different than it does today, and the lands around the house stretched further.

It was originally located on the boundary wall of the palace, that led to the king’s privy gardens.

The royal family and court would spend time here in the sunshine, when the weather was fine.

Upon this assumption, it could have been built as a summer house.
It may even be a Tudor tennis pavilion, and many believe this is the oldest tennis pavilion in the world!

There are also theories that this was used as a dovecot, and an intimate banqueting house.

The rumours of Queen Mary’s Bath House also conveniently re-emerged in the 19th-century to attract tourists to the site.

Indeed, a sign was placed on the gate nearby for passers-by.

So, I guess we’ll never know whether Mary Queen of Scots really did bathe in wine here.
But, it’s still pretty cool to think that she did!
She was a Queen after all.