Stirling pays tribute to Wallace

Published on Tuesday 6 September 2005 11:35

A WEEKEND filled with re-enactments, historical presentations and entertainment are in store at Stirling Castle to mark the 700th anniversary of the death of William Wallace.

The annual Stirling Castle Extravaganza will focus on the life and times of the great Scottish warrior whose life captured the imagination of many through the film Braveheart.

Visitors to the castle on 10-11 September will be able to come face-to-face with Wallace to learn about his dramatic life and impassioned fight for Scotland's freedom and independence.

Historical re-enactment groups such as Alba Adventure Company, Black Raven, Heritage Events, and Fire and Sword will highlight aspects of Wallace's story in presentations and playlets taking place in different parts of the castle.

The programme includes a lighthearted look at Scotland’s struggle for independence from an English perspective, a dramatic portrayal of Wallace's trial before his execution, and a presentation examining the differences between Hollywood's Wallace, as portrayed by Mel Gibson, and how the real historical hero would have really looked.

The shows will feature clothing, weaponry and combat styles of the period, as well as displays of other aspects of medieval life. The weekend event has taken place under the guidance of Historic Scotland for more than ten years.

Wallace was executed on 23 August 1305 in London after being found guilty of treason. His head was impaled on a spike near London Bridge as a warning to other rebels.

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's grandest structures for its imposing position and impressive architecture. It towers over some of the most important battlefields of the country's past, including Stirling Bridge, the site of Wallace's victory over the English in 1297, and Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314.