Gavel: Belonged to Rhododendron Court No. 8, Amaranth (1948). Made of Scottish Walnut planted by Mary, Queen of Scots.

Object/Artifact

-

Washington Masonic Services - Library & Museum

Name/Title

Gavel: Belonged to Rhododendron Court No. 8, Amaranth (1948). Made of Scottish Walnut planted by Mary, Queen of Scots.

Entry/Object ID

2015.35.1

Description

Gavel: Made from scottish walnut tree planted by Mary Queen of Scots at Balmerino Abbey, Scotland in 1566. Belonged to Rhododendron Court No. 8, Amaranth (1948). Enclosed in glass case.

Made/Created

Date made

1948

Notes

Tree that gavel is made from was planted in 1566.

Research Notes

Research Type

Facebook Post

Person

Chelsea Hansen

Date

Mar 18, 2025

Notes

What does Mary, Queen of Scots and Washington Amaranth have in Common? This wooden gavel is said to be made from a tree planted by Mary, Queen of Scots, at Balmerino Abbey in Scotland! Balmerino Abbey was a 13th century Cistercian Monestary, which is now cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Mary, Queen of Scots, visited the Abbey in 1565, and planted a walnut tree at that time. When the tree fell down in a storm in 1948, its wood was used to line the Secretary of State's room at St. Andrew's House in Edinburgh, and apparently also for souvenirs like this gavel. Gifted to Amaranth Rhododendron Chapter No. 8 (located in Puyallup) in 1948, this gavel is now in the Washington Masonic Library & Museum collection. #Amaranth #MaryQueenofScots #MasonicHeritage #BalmerinoAbbey #Puyallup

Create Date

September 21, 2023