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Mary Bristow of Quidenham Hall, Norfolk (18 june 1781- 1805) was best known for developing and designing the woodland, known as Miss Bristow’s Wood, from the agricultural land surrounding Castle Fraser she was also know as the close friend of Elyza Fraser (the lady laird of Castle Fraser 1734-1814). Together they spent more than £9,600 (over £500,000 today) between 1797 and 1800, following the fashion set by Elyza’s neighbour, Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk.

Mary Bristow spent many years as the companion of Elyza Fraser at Castle Fraser, she first met Elyza Fraser in Bristol on 18th June 1781 and the women travelled extensively through Europe, both separately and together, this may have been due in part to Mary's ill health. Both women had an interested in gardening and kept a notebook of visits to great gardens. She also played the keyboard, and dueted with Elyza Fraser, who played the violin.

Highly cultured ladies, Mary and Elyza travelled through Europe together. You can see their portraits hanging in the castle. Mary Bristow bought several books on landscape design, which are still in the castle library today along with examples of her embroidery which are preserved in the Worked Room of Castle Fraser. Following Mary's death in 1805, Elyza Fraser erected a granite monument which stills stands in the ground of Castle Fraser to this day, bearing the following inscription : "Sacred to the memory of a friendship which subsisted over 40 years, Elyza Fraser erects this monument in the groves planted by her lamented friend."