John Drummond of Milnab

John Drummond of Milnab (d. c.1550) was a 16th-century Scottish carpenter in charge of the woodwork of the palaces, castles and guns of James IV of Scotland and James V of Scotland.

John Drummond was the second son of James Drummond of Auchterader. A family history narrates that in 1521, John Drummond was given the lands and mill of Milnab in Strathearn, and the royal charter described him in Latin as; "Machinarum bellicarum ejaculator et carpentarius noster," - "keeper of the throwing machines of war and our carpenter."

The later Drummond family history attributed to him the fine timber work in Stirling Castle and the roof of Drummond Castle set up in 1493.

A number of records of the royal exchequer of Scotland describe the career of the Master Wright with more certainty. John Drummond was first recorded as a wright (carpenter) in 1506, and made Principal Master Wright on 8 June 1532. In Spring 1538 he went to Tantallon Castle and Dunbar Castle with William Hill, the master-smith, to oversee repair works. John and his two workmen went to France in 1538 on the ships that brought the king's bride Mary of Guise to Scotland. In 1541 he was building a part of the Register House at Edinburgh and also working at the castle of Crawfordjohn which had been forfeited to the crown by James Hamilton of Finnart. In December 1541 he made an organ-loft at Edinburgh Castle and it was carried in carts down to Holyroodhouse to be installed for Christmas.

In 1515, John took the guns off two warships, the James and Margaret, at Dumbarton, which had been returned from France by the Duke of Albany, and took the cannon to Edinburgh overland via Glasgow. John was often based at Edinburgh Castle where carpenters and ironworkers maintained the royal artillery. He directed the transport of these heavy guns. Drummond also had an armoury in a building at the gate of Holyroodhouse rented from the priest of St. Leonards. On 8 August 1536, John delivered guns to George Stirling of Glorat at Dumbarton Castle. These included four great guns furnished with stocks, wheels, vices and wedges, six falcons with stocks and wheels, 33 hagbutts, four iron culverins, bullets, gunpowder and ramrods. John took away a 10 foot long brass gun barrel.

...
Wikipedia