| Equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce | |
|---|---|
 The statue in 2014 | |
 | |
| Artist | Pilkington Jackson |
| Year | 1964 |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Location | Bannockburn |
| 56°05′38″N3°56′19″W / 56.093812°N 3.938562°W | |
The equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce at the Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Bannockburn, Stirling, is a 1964 work by Pilkington Jackson.
The bronze sculpture depicts Robert the Bruce wielding an axe and on a war horse. [1] The statue stands on a plinth that bears the inscription "ROBERT THE BRUCE KING OF SCOTS 1306–1329". It is located near the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. The statue is a A listed building. [2]
The statue was commissioned by the Earl of Elgin in 1964 to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. [3] It was sculpted by Pilkington Jackson using the measurements of Bruce's skull, re-discovered at Dunfermline Abbey in 1818, [1] and cast in Cheltenham by H.H. Martyn & Co. [4] The statue was unveiled by the Queen. [5]
In 1966, a replica of the statue was placed outside the Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. [6] [7] The statue was funded by Canadian lawyer Eric Harvie. [8] [9]
From 2009 to 2020, the statue featured on the Clydesdale Bank £20 note. [10]
In 2013, the statue was restored in preparation for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014. [1] The statue which was cast in bronze was slowly turning green. [11] Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said "The Robert the Bruce statue is an iconic part of the Bannockburn site, and a poignant reminder of the battle". [1]
On 11 June 2020, following the actions against memorials in Great Britain during the George Floyd protests, the statue was defaced with graffiti. [12] [13] The Scottish king was branded as a racist, despite not being involved in the slave trade. [14] Stirling MP Alyn Smith said “I’ve been vocal in my support of #BlackLivesMatter and hope such counterproductive stupidity is an isolated incident.” [15]
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