Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Stone destined for Perthshire?
ONE of Scotland’s most i mpor ta nt h i stor ica l artefacts could soon be returned to Perthshire.
The ancient Stone of Destiny was used for centuries during the coronation of monarchs in Scotland and was kept at Scone Palace.
However, it was seized by King Edward I of England in the 13th Century and would not return north of the border until 1996 – despite a three-month sojourn to Arbroath Abbey, after a group of Scottish students infamously stole it in the 1950s.
Now the public is being asked to have its say on the future location of the stone, with Perth City Hall one of the options being considered.
The council has tabled a bid to have the stone housed there permanently, as part of a multimillion-pound redevelopment of the site.
The public consultation will run for six weeks and will also consider a bid to keep the stone at its current home of Edinburgh Castle.
A number of politicians have backed the council’s efforts to see the sandstone block feature as a crown jewel of the revamped hall.
John Swinney, the deputy first minister,said: “I am grateful that the commissioners are willing to consider the very compelling case for returning the Stone of Destiny to Perthshire.
“The Stone of Destiny is widely regarded to have been quarried from Perthshire stone, and was used for the coronation of the Kings of Scotland at Scone for many years.
“It is therefore highly appropriate that the stone should return to Perthshire.”
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, added: “It is welcome news that consideration is now being given to the Stone of Destiny returning to its ancestral home at the heart of Scotland.
“I have long supported the claim that Perthshire is the right location for this critically important historical artefact. I will be submitting my own view to the consultation strongly in favour of Perthshire’s claim and would encourage those like-minded to do the same.”
The public can share their views at consult.gov.scot/commissionersfor-the-safeguarding-of-the-regalia/the-stone-of-destiny/ before September 19.