Bannockburn 700 – Stirling Story no 25 for 18 June
There will be many commemorations for Bannockburn 700 throughout the world, wherever Scots meet. Bannockburn near Geelong in Victoria, Australia also has its own battle re-enactment scheduled for 22 June. Here in Stirling the Masonic societies in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire have had a commemorative dinner for over
The Bruce by John Barbour
The Declaration of Arbroath, sent by the barons and nobles of Scotland to the Pope on 6 April 1320, was a document which underlined the freedom won at Bannockburn and shaped political thought in Scotland and elsewhere thereafter. This version was stitched as part of the Smith’s 2014 banner by
Robert the Bruce
The Bannockburn 700 exhibition at the Stirling Smith looks at how Bannockburn has been remembered and memorialised over the past 700 years. The royal victor, King Robert the Bruce, has also been portrayed by artists and sculptors in so many different ways. Shown here is a figurine in porcelain by
Stirlingshire Draughts Association Trophy
The Stirling Smith is well known as the home of the world’s oldest curling stone (1511), football (1540), early golf clubs and balls, and specialist early fishing equipment. The latest addition to the collection of sporting memorabilia is this magnificent draughts trophy in the form of a draughts board. It
Norman McLaren – A Dream of Stirling
Norman McLaren, the award-winning animated filmmaker, was born at 21 Albert Place, Stirling, opposite the Stirling Smith on 11 April 1914. Using material from the University of Stirling’s extensive Norman McLaren Archive along with items loaned from the McLaren family ‘A Dream of Stirling’ is the exhibition which looks at
Bridge of Allan Golf Course
With the Ryder Cup exhibition in the Stirling Smith, we continue to explore the local story of golf. The Bridge of Allan Golf Course was laid out by the famous Old Tom Morris in 1895, on ground selected by him. Shown here is Edmund Pullar declaring the extended course open
Early Christian Grave Marker
This important early Christian grave marker, discovered by farmer Mr A.M. Paterson on his land at Ballangrew Farm, Port of Menteith in 1975, is evidence of early Christian belief in the Stirling area. It dates from 400-600AD and is one of the earliest surviving Christian stones. It was acquired for
A Heavenly Gift, June Carey RSW
An important new work of art is installed in the Stirling Smith later this week. ‘A Heavenly Gift’ has been made by artist June Carey, who lives and works in Stirling, to celebrate the 140th birthday of the Smith in 2014. Thomas Stuart Smith, also an artist with Stirling connections,