Upgrade will help tell hero Wallace’s story
New pictures were this week released showing how the Wallace Monument’s exhibition galleries will be transformed during its £1million facelift.
The monument, this year celebrating its 150th anniversary, will feature fresh interactive activities, `immersive’ film and enhanced foreign language content across its three galleries.
Monument operators Stirling District Tourism is funding the interior upgrade at a cost of over £500,000, and the work is being managed by Edinburgh-based design consultants Studioarc.
Their aim is to tell the story of Scotland’s national hero better than it has ever been told before, and appeal to visitors from across the world.
Filled with fascinating historical information and exciting new insights, the displays will give focus to the story of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, where Wallace’s army famously defeated English forces in 1297.
A detailed reconstruction has been created with expert guidance to show visitors how Stirling would have looked at the time of the historic battle. Wallace’s pivotal role in the Wars of Independence will also be told through a powerful animation created by Glasgowbased ISO.
The Hall of Heroes will be updated with the addition of two new busts depicting Scottish heroines Mary Slessor and Maggie Keswick Jencks. Other elements will be introduced specifically to engage children in history, including a superheroes quiz and a `making arms’ interactive shield design activity.
The monument will shut on Monday, February 11, to accommodate the extensive interior refurbishment as well as the ongoing conservation work to the exterior of the building, reopening in spring 2019.
SDT chair Zillah Jamieson said: “This investment is so important as it helps ensure the monument remains an exciting and relevant tourist destination for visitors across Scotland and internationally, as well as ensuring that Wallace’s legacy is preserved for years to come.
“It is thanks to the positive increase in visitor numbers over the last four years that we are able to upgrade the interior displays and improve the overall visitor experience.”
In addition to SDT’s self-funded investment of over £500,000 for the interior refurbishments, Stirling Council is managing a £515,000 project covering important conservation work to the structure’s exterior. This work includes the £260,000 restoration of the giant bronze statue of William Wallace, which will be temporarily removed from its usual residence on a corbel in the south-west corner of the Monument for the first time since its installation 132 years ago.
There will be an opportunity to find out more about the conservation work and interior refurbishments underway by attending the `Building a National Icon’ evening lecture on Thursday, March 21, when Dr David Mitchell, director of conservation at Historic Environment Scotland and trustee of Stirling District Tourism, and Lyndsey Bowditch, director at Studioarc Design Consultants will discuss the work in greater detail.
In the enhanced programme of events to mark the 150th anniversary of the monument, there will be evening lectures in March, April and October in Legends Coffee House.
More details at www. nationalwallacemonument.com.