DESTINED TO RETURN
Stone of Scone heading back to Perthshire as main attraction in £26.5m new museum
THE Stone of Destiny is to be housed in Perth, just two miles from its home at Scone, after the Queen approved a plan to make it the centrepiece of a new museum.
The ancient coronation seat of Scotland’s monarchs has been away from its home county of Perthshire since Edward I of England stole it in 1296.
But it will return to become the main attraction at the £26.5million museum at Perth City Hall. Building work on the project is due to start in February.
The decision was made after a public consulation and announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. She is one of four Commissioners for the
Safeguarding of the Regalia, who advise the Queen on the care of royal ceremonial objects.
S turgeon said: “The commissioners concluded that there would be considerable merit in relocating the Stone to assist with the ongoing regeneration of Perth.”
Her deputy, Perthshire North MSP John Swinney, added: “I am absolutely delighted by this news.
“As someone who has campaigned for the Stone to return to Perthshire for almost a quarter of a century, it sometimes seemed like this day would never come.
“The return of the Stone will be a huge boost to the economy of Perthshire. It puts it within 90 minutes’ driving distance of 70 per cent of Scotland’s population, and will surely lead to an increase in those visiting our city and the surrounding areas.”
The Stone is made of old red sandstone, which tests confirmed was quarried at Scone. After taking it as war booty, Edward had it built into the coronation chair at Westminster Abbey to symbolise his claim of lordship over Scotland.
It remained there until 1950, when four Scottish students removed it and smuggled it back to its homeland. It was hidden for months then left in Arbroath Abbey and returned to London.
The UK Government returned it to Scotland in 1996 and it is now at Edinburgh Castle. The Perth museum is due to open in 2024.