The building fronts the kirk yard of the Holy Rude Church and sits at the head of the processional route to Stirling Castle above the town's tollbooth.

A motif of the letter "A" with the earl's coronet points to a variant version of the family name, as "Areskine," or possibly the initial of Mar's countess, Annabella Murray.

[2] The middle Scots inscriptions[3] carved on the gatehouse centrepiece refer to the onlooker's appreciation of the architecture and the eminence of the Regent himself in the building's own voice: South tower I PRAY AL LVIKARIS ON THIS LVGINGVITH GENTILE E TO GIF THAIR IVGINGI pray all lookers on this lodging,With gentle eye to give their judging.North towerTHE MOIR I STAND ON OPPIN HITHTMY FAVLTIS MOIR SVBIECT AR TO SITHTThe more I stand on open height,My faults more subject are to sight.Internal (exit) archESSPY SPEIK FVRTH AND SPAIR NOTHTCONSIDDIR VEIL I CAIR NOTHTSee, speak forth and spare not,Consider well, I care not.

In April 1584 supporters of the Earl of Angus were ordered to surrender the castle and the town gates of Stirling with the "lodging of Annabell, Countess of Mar, and other places of fortification.

[8] In May 1595 a banquet for the marriage of the king's mistress Anne Murray and Lord Glamis was to be held at the Countess of Mar's new house in Stirling.