IT was the scene of one of Sir William Wallace’s most most famous victories over the English in the First War of Scottish Independence.
In September 1297, the forces of Andrew Moray and Wallace defeated the combined English armies of John de Warenne, the 6th Earl of Surrey, and Hugh de Cressingham, near Stirling on the River Forth.
Now visitors to the National Wallace Monument can see for for the first time how the battlefield looked to Wallace as he prepared to do battle.
A reconstruction of the original landscape is one of the highlights of the £550,000 refurbishment of the attraction to tell the story of Scotland’s national hero “better than ever before”.
The state of the art transformation of the 150-year-old monument’s three galleries includes the Hall of Arms, which now houses Wallace’s medieval sword.
Hundreds of visitors to the upgraded landmark on the Abbey Craig at Stirling can also experienced a range of new exhibits including a bespoke animated film, a digital coat of arms design activity and immersive displays.
Brand-new sculptures of Victorian missionary Mary Slessor and the founder of the Maggie’s cancer centres, Maggie Keswick Jencks, have also been installed in the attraction’s “Hall of Heroes”.
The two women were selected to be cast in stone following a public vote in 2017 and are the first in the gallery depicting female figures.
For over a century, the gallery has hosted only the busts of great Scotsmen including Robert the Bruce and the poet Robert Burns.
The transformation has been managed by Stirling District Tourism (SDT), the charity that operates the historic attraction, and a team of specialist contractors led by Edinburgh-based designers Studioarc.
Zillah Jamieson, SDT chair said: “In the monument’s 150th anniversary year, we wanted to tell the story of William Wallace better than it has ever been told in the past.
“The upgraded exhibition spaces will resonate with modern audiences from all over the world, through dynamic storytelling and digital enhancements.”
Lauren Drill, 26, a teacher from Philadelphia touring Scotland with a US rugby side, was among the first visitors to the newly reopened attraction.
She said: “This is my first time ever in Scotland and we were watching Braveheart on the bus. We were really excited to learn about William Wallace and see where the real life events actually happened.”
Lyndsey Bowditch, a director of exhibition designers StudioArc, said: “Wallace has been revered as a Scottish hero for 700 years.
“He’s one of the few who challenged the tyranny and might of Edward I, but most of what we know of Wallace comes from contemporary accounts, mostly created by his enemies.”
“At the heart of Wallace’s story is his success defeating the English army against all the odds at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
The 220ft Gothic tower first opened to the public in 1869 as a tribute to the 13th century hero.
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