Post by Elly on Nov 4, 2006 16:37:48 GMT 10
Saving Historic Battlefields
Over the years, historians have complained about the way in which many of the sites of battlefields that were turning points in Scottish history have been ignored. As a result, modern developments often encroach on them. There are, of course, honourable exceptions - Culloden (1746) and Bannockburn (1314) are under the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland (though the site of Bannockburn is frequently disputed). However, the site of the Battle of Sheriffmuir (1715) is overshadowed by soaring electricity pylons and the area of the conflict at Dunbar in 1650 is crossed by the main A1 road from Edinburgh to London - and a cement works has been built on another part of the site. The location of Wallace's victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) was built over many years ago - though the area is likely to become a heritage project, with sculptures and art work. In England, there is the Register of Historic Battlefields, set up by EnglishHeritage, which gives 43 important battlefields some degree of protection. Now, Historic Scotland has undertaken to at least draw up a register of known sites in Scotland. While this would not provide any statutory authority to protect them, at least it would give local authorities relevant information before making any planning decisions. Perhaps Historic Scotland will also be able to resolve the disputes (and there are many) where the exact location of a battle is in doubt.
The illustration here shows the Clan Macrae Memorial at Sheriffmuir.
Over the years, historians have complained about the way in which many of the sites of battlefields that were turning points in Scottish history have been ignored. As a result, modern developments often encroach on them. There are, of course, honourable exceptions - Culloden (1746) and Bannockburn (1314) are under the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland (though the site of Bannockburn is frequently disputed). However, the site of the Battle of Sheriffmuir (1715) is overshadowed by soaring electricity pylons and the area of the conflict at Dunbar in 1650 is crossed by the main A1 road from Edinburgh to London - and a cement works has been built on another part of the site. The location of Wallace's victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) was built over many years ago - though the area is likely to become a heritage project, with sculptures and art work. In England, there is the Register of Historic Battlefields, set up by EnglishHeritage, which gives 43 important battlefields some degree of protection. Now, Historic Scotland has undertaken to at least draw up a register of known sites in Scotland. While this would not provide any statutory authority to protect them, at least it would give local authorities relevant information before making any planning decisions. Perhaps Historic Scotland will also be able to resolve the disputes (and there are many) where the exact location of a battle is in doubt.
The illustration here shows the Clan Macrae Memorial at Sheriffmuir.
