OUTWITH in Perth: The Last Letter and Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots

As part of the Library’s centenary celebrations, selected treasures are travelling to locations around Scotland, and the next stop for the OUTWITH programme is Perth.

We are collaborating with Culture Perth and Kinross to shine a spotlight on Mary, Queen of Scots through two exhibitions and a programme of events.

'The Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots' at Perth Museum

In the early hours of 8 February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots wrote what is believed to be her last letter. Her execution at Fotheringhay Castle was a mere six hours away.

In 1925, this letter became part of the founding collections of the National Library of Scotland. Now this precious piece of history travels north, going on display at Perth Museum in a free, once-in-a generation exhibition bringing Mary's last letter and her connections to Perthshire to life.

Learn more about this exhibition at Perth Museum

'The Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots' at AK Bell Library, Perth

Discover Mary's legacy in a free display featuring writing from two iconic Scots. Explore a manuscript of Robert Burns' poem 'Lament of Mary, Queen of Scots on the Approach of Spring' and early archive material from Liz Lochhead's play 'Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off'.

The AK Bell Library display is open Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 4pm, and 9:30am to 1pm on Saturday.

Learn more about this exhibition at AK Bell Library

Event highlights

Mary's story will be brought to life through bookable talks, film, and drop-in family fun, including:

• Saturday 24 January: Burns Weekend: Poetry, stories and family fun (AK Bell Library)

• Thursday 29 January: Voices from the Archives: Mary, Burns and Lochhead (AK Bell Library)

• Thursday 26 February: Exile and Embroidery: The final years of Mary, Queen of Scots (Perth Museum)

• Thursday 19 March: Film Screening: Mary, Queen of Scots, 2018 (AK Bell Library)

• Thursday 26 March: Lochhead's Mary (AK Bell Library)

• Saturday 11 April: Royal Secrets: Fashion, Letters and Language with Mary Queen of Scots (Perth Museum)

• Thursday 23 April: Decoding Mary: An Evening with Historian Dr Jade Scott (Perth Museum)