Lottery boost for Bannockburn experience

Published on Sunday 24 July 2011 18:34

IT WAS the scene of a defining event in Scottish history that propelled the nation down the road to independence from England.

Now the site of the Battle of Bannockburn is set to become home to a 10 million visitor centre, after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) backed plans to transform the run-down site.

Its backing means the new complex will be ready in time for the second Year of Homecoming celebrations, which the Scottish Government is planning to coincide with the 700th anniversary of the battle in 2014.

However, it also means the new facilities will be much more ambitious than originally envisaged, while extra improvements to the battlefield site itself will be carried out.

Better promotion of Bannockburn is promised to link it with historic attractions nearby, such as Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.

The existing Bannockburn heritage centre, which dates back to the 1970s, will be demolished to make way for a new complex, which will offer visitors a virtual flavour of the bloody confrontation between the Scots and the English.

The HLF yesterday pledged 3.69m towards the project - being jointly pursued by the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland - which is being sensitively designed to blend in with the Stirlingshire landscape.

The Scottish Government had already ringfenced 5m for the project, which has won the support of opposition politicians, due to the outdated nature of the current facilities.

It is hoped the new Bannockburn complex, being designed by acclaimed Edinburgh architects Reiach & Hall, will emulate the success of the updated visitor centre at the Culloden battlefield, which won plaudits for having a minimal impact on the landscape.

Backers say the new centre will offer an "immersive digital experience" thanks to cutting-edge interpretation facilities, with visitor numbers predicted to soar from 65,000 to 100,000 in its first year.

The HLF yesterday hailed the battle as "one of the most significant fought on British soil".

Colin McLean, head of the HLF in Scotland, added: "The Battle of Bannockburn inspires artists, writers and political thinkers worldwide, and is intrinsically linked to Scotland's national identity.

"This project will take the visitor experience to a new level. Bannockburn will be re- established as a significant tourist destination and valuable education resource."

The Bannockburn anniversary has been cited as one of the main reasons to revive a Year of Homecoming after the first, in 2009, was held to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. However, Scotland is also hosting the Commonwealth Games and golf's Ryder Cup in 2014.Some 1.78 million people were found to have attended Homecoming events two years ago, 80 per cent of them Scots.

Culture minister Fiona Hyslop said: "We announced the 5m of initial investment only last year and the project has come on leaps and bounds since then."

The Scottish Tories have led calls for Bannockburn to be overhauled, saying it was vital new facilities were in place for the next Year of Homecoming.

Deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "We've been making the case to improve Bannockburn for several years, as it did feel like something out of the 1970s."

The Battle of Bannockburn, fought over two days in June 1314, saw the armies of Robert the Bruce, outnumbered almost three to one, defeat Edward II in one of the crucial episodes that led to the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.