Bronze Wallace statue fractured

A “superb” but threatened statue of William Wallace, which stands 30ft above the ground on the west elevation of the National Wallace Monument near Stirling, requires “potentially significant” restoration work costing more than £200,000, officials warned yesterday.

The 14ft bronze figure’s left leg has suffered a structural fracture, a bronze anchor bolt is missing, and water penetration is occurring.

An inspection of the statue from a cherry picker also found surface decay and erosion and internal corrosion.

The total renovation bill is expected to top £208,000.

Stirling Council has submitted a listed building application for work on the figure on the 220ft sandstone tower.

Professor David Mitchell, of Historic Environment Scotland, said the Wallace figure was “probably the most exposed bronze statue in the country”. He said the fracture was “a relatively recent and concerning failure”.

He said: “This is an unusual failure to see and suggests something significant has happened. It is unlikely to promote catastrophic failure in the short term. No immediate action needs to be taken, but the repair of this element needs to be undertaken within the next 12 to 18 months and monitored proactively.”

In a condition survey lodged with the application, he said the Wallace statue “requires some potentially significant intervention which cannot be undertaken in situ to resolve structural issues”.

A 16-week programme of works will be agreed before work commences and, with the monument’s 150th anniversary celebrations next year in mind, these will be completed and the site cleared by an agreed date in 2019.

The National Wallace Monument near Stirling.