Charles II bawbee

Worth six pence Scots, this bawbee is an example of copper coinage from the reign of Charles II (1649–85). Facing left on the heads side is a ‘laureate bust’ of the king – so called because a laurel wreath crowns the figure. Centred on the reverse is a crowned thistle.

Charles II was named King of Scots shortly after his father – Charles I – was executed in 1649. He was crowned at Scone on 1 January 1651, but fled to Europe soon after. This was his second period of exile due to ongoing conflict throughout the British Isles and Ireland.

No coins were made until Charles II was restored to the English throne in 1660. And not a single gold coin appeared in his reign. This copper bawbee dates from 1679.

The legend means ‘Charles II by the grace of God King of Scotland, England, France and Ireland’. The Latin itself reads: ‘CAR II DG SCOT AN FR ET HIB R’.

‘No one shall hurt me with impunity’ is the meaning of the motto on the reverse. This is written: ‘NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSET’.

Bawbees get their name from Alexander Orrok of Sillebawby, mint master at the time coins of this value began to be made. The first bawbees, from around 1539, were made of billon, an alloy. Sterling replaced Scots money in 1707, but the name didn’t die out. The Scottish sixpence had been worth a halfpenny sterling – so bawbee was still used for a halfpenny.

Tolquhon Castle

Tolquhon is one of the most picturesque of Grampian’s many castles. It was a noble residence for some 300 years.

The oldest part is a tower house of the early 1400s. The Lands of Tolquhon came into the possession of Sir John Forbes in 1420, and it is likely that he built the tower house. An armorial panel displaying his arms was found amongst the rubble of the tower.

The tower is known as Preston’s Tower: Sir John’s wife was Marjorie Preston, heiress of Sir Simon Preston, Lord of Formatine. The castle is first recorded in 1536, as “a tower and a fortalice” – the fortalice probably refers to service buildings around the tower.

It was Sir William Forbes, 7th Lord of Tolquhon, who built the castle we see today. He began a major building programme in 1584. When work completed in 1589, Tolquhon made a fine residence for Sir William and his spouse, Elizabeth.

A stone plaque by the front entrance records:

AL THIS WARKE EXCEP THE AULD TOUR WAS BEGVN BE WILLIAM FORBES 15 APRILE 1584 AND ENDIT BE HIM 20 OCTOBER 1589

Sir William’s castle

Architect Thomas Leiper adopted the idea of a rectangular, three-storey residential block, with other ranges of buildings grouped around a central courtyard. This was instead of the traditional tower house design favoured by his predecessors.

The galleries (indoor recreation spaces) on the first floor of the west and north ranges – and accessible from the family’s private apartment in the south block – were an innovation. Beyond the courtyard, Sir William added a formal garden and large walled pleasance (pleasure ground).

The castle’s lavish decorations include carved human figures on the twin-towered gatehouse, two of which are likely Sir William and Lady Elizabeth.

A house for the dead

Sir William also had an ornate memorial for himself and his wife built in the parish church in nearby Tarves village.

The Tarves Tomb:

is one of the best examples of Scotland’s so-called ‘glorious tombs’ of the Jacobean age
is finely decorated
features stone effigies of Sir William and Lady Elizabeth
is where Sir William was laid to rest in 1596

Find out more about Tolquhon Castle