Expansion plans remain on hold Bannockburn centre still hopes to press ahead with £80k project
A project to expand the Battle of Bannockburn Experience visitor attraction, put on hold by Covid-19, is currently the subject of a planning application.
The National Trust for Scotland is proposing to install speakers at the rotunda ‘to add soundscapes that evoke the battle and remembrance’ as well as information panels which tell the story of the 1314 battle.
The upgrade – costing £80,000 and funded from last year’s £250,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to the visitor centre – had been due to take place in 2020 to coincide with the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, but was delayed by the pandemic.
The £9m Battle of Bannockburn Experience opened in February 2014 to mark the 700th anniversary of the battle which played a crucial role in winning Scotland’s independence.
NTS Forth Valley operations manager Cara Stewart said: “These plans will add even more to the experience here at Bannockburn and help visitors get an even better understanding of this place, the events that happened here and what they mean to our country. We are very grateful for the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this work possible.
“They continue the improvements and developments that were made to the landscape and historic monuments when the Battle of Bannockburn Experience was refreshed for the 700th anniversary of the battle in 2014.
“The key developments are the addition of speakers to the rotunda structure, which will be used to add soundscapes that evoke the battle and remembrance.
“A series of external information panels are also planned to help continue the story which is told in the visitor centre, out into the landscape.
“These are developments which were originally hoped to be in place for the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath in April 2020, but unfortunately this was halted due to Covid.
“The centre also had plans for events to mark this anniversary, but these were also impossible due to the pandemic.”
The soundscapes include original musical contributions from ex-simple Minds keyboard player Mick Macneil, fiddler Chris Stout from band Fiddlers’ Bid and Gaelic singer Mairi Morrison.
There will also be readings from actors Keith Fleming, Helen Mackay and Kerrie Sellick, who works at the Bannockburn site.
The infomation panels will explain the site’s strategic importance, connection to Stirling Castle and its importance as a place of remembrance.