Monument to William Wallace

William Wallace National Monument is a tower located on top of Mount Abbey Craig, near Stirling in Scotland. Figure commemorates William Wallace, Scottish soldier who fought thirteenth century King Edward I of England in the War of Scottish Independence.

Construction

The tower was built thanks to a fundraising campaign, amid renewed Scottish nationalist sentiment during the nineteenth century. In addition to this public subscription was also funded by some foreign employers, including the Italian leader Giuseppe Garibaldi. It was completed in 1869 following the designs of architect John Thomas Rochead, and consists of a sandstone tower about 70 meters high, in Victorian Gothic style. It is situated high on the hill of Abbey Craig, a crag that rises above Cambuskenneth Abbey, and from which it is said that William Wallace watched the English army before the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

To access the monument is needed to climb the hill, and in turn can climb to the top of the monument through the 246 steps of the spiral staircase. From the top you can see the views of the Ochil Hills and the Forth River valley. Inside the tower are also preserved various objects which are said to belong to William Wallace, as his Great Sword Battle of 1.67 meters long.

"Braveheart" William Wallace

William Wallace statue at the foot of the hill, now withdrawn.

In 1997 he installed a new statue honoring William Wallace at the foot of Monument Hill, next to the car park. However, the hero's portrait seemed less historical than the original face of Mel Gibson, who had incarnated in the film Braveheart-term also appeared in the coat of the hero in the statue.

According to William Temby2 this caused the discontent of the Scots, and the mobilization of social groups who demanded its removal, it was denied, and since then the monument suffered recurring vandalism that marred especially the face of the statue. Hence, the statue had to be protected by bars, something surprising when you consider that the title of the statue was Libertad.3 Under Rampant Scotland Newsletter news when in September 2004 was completed within occupied space rental by the statue, the author put up for sale by auction with a starting price of £ 350,000, with no buyers.