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Bannockburn

On the 24th of June 1314 Robert the Bruce defeated the army of Edward the Second at Bannockburn near Stirling. The traditional site of the battlefield is now owned by the National Trust, although the exact site is not known for certain. There is a visitors centre, a shop and cafe, and a statue of Robert the Bruce watching over the battlefield. Throughout the summer there are Living History presentations and storytelling. There is a costume box for children, a quiz and a children's guide. On the third weekend in September there is a re-enactment of the battle. Dogs are welcome in the park only.

Bannockburn is often thought of as a site celebrating Scottish national identity. But just like English sites traditonally linked with national identity, the actual history of Bannockburn tends to make a nonsense of national myths. Robert the Bruce may not have been Scottish, and even if he was he had plenty of Scottish enemies. The powerful noble John Comyn, for example had a strong claim to the Scottish throne. Since Comyn threatened Robert's own claim to the throne, Robert killed him in front of the alter at Greyfriars Abbey, which did not go down well with many Scots. At the battle of Bannockburn itself, there were many of Robert's Scottish enemies in the ranks of the English army. In the modern world we tend to think more strongly along national lines than was the case in the fourteenth century. The struggles of that time were largely dynastic, with groups of wealthy nobles fighting each other for power. Often men would pin their fortunes on a powerful noble not so much out of a sense of national pride, but in the hope of enjoying the spoils of victory. National feeling was to an extent tagged on to other more pressing considerations. To its credit, the historical display at Bannockburn does not shy away from these historical contradictions.

In the seventeenth century Samuel Johnson said that patriotism was the "last refuge of a scondrel." Even so it is difficult to deny the patriotic role of places like Bannockburn. This is so even if the history of such places does not actually match the nationalistic story woven around them. As Anthoney Burgess says "While patriotic virtue burns in the mind, adrenalin courses round the body and exhilarates. Reason never has this euphoric effect." (A Mouthful of Air P2) But while we should see the attraction of euphoria, it remains something to be handled gingerly, like gunpowder. I am glad that reason has a place in the way the history of the site has been portrayed.

Opening Times: The site is open daily. The Heritage Centre, shop and cafe are open from 1st February to 31st March and 1st November to 24th December 10:30am -4pm, and from 1st April to 31st October 10am -5:30pm.

Directions: Bannockburn is two miles from Stirling off the M9 at junction 9. Click here for an interactive map centred on Bannockburn.

Access: There is provision for disabled parking, and for hiring of wheelchairs. A disabled toilet is available. There is a large print guide, subtitled video in the exhibition, and an induction loop in the auditorium.

Contact: 01786 810892