The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Robert the Bruce descendents benefiting from Outlaw King
The Fife-based descendants of Robert the Bruce – the Scots hero who famously secured Scottish independence from England following the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 – have experienced a spike in interest following the recently released Netflix movie The Outlaw King.
Lord Charles Bruce – the son of Lord Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce, the 11th Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine – said international tour companies were increasingly getting in touch to arrange tours of the Bruce family’s ancestral home at Broomhall, near Dunfermline.
Lord Bruce is a direct descendent of Thomas Bruce of Clackmannan Tower, who was appointed by the Bannockburn victor as his heir.
Robert the Bruce famously sent the English king Edward II “homeward tae think again” after the two-day battle 704 years ago.
Tapping into the rich and fascinating history of the Bruce family, which dates back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, Lord Bruce recently decided to open the Grade A-listed 18th-Century family home to guests for the first time in its history as a high-end venue like no other.
Amid concerns that Brexit could be an economic disaster for Broomhall’s £100,000-per-annum upkeep and the estate’s 1,200-acre farm, he sees it as a great way to showcase Scottish history to an international audience from the perspective of the Bruce family while bringing investment to the west Fife and wider Scottish economy.
“We’ve noticed several effects that clearly are a consequence of the filming of The Outlaw King last year at various locations around Scotland – such as Dunfermline Abbey,” he said.
“There’s definitely evidence of growing interest in the Bruce Family and Broomhall House, which our sales team is picking up from inbound tour companies and destination management companies, who are bringing visitors to Scotland from all over the world, principally from North America.
“These organisations are keen that their clients have an opportunity to experience the personal guided tours of Broomhall House and its collection, which are given by members of the Bruce family.
“I’ve attended many tourism conferences and seminars in recent years and I find that one of the most important reasons people give for visiting Scotland is to have a genuinely authentic encounter or experience.
“This is particularly true for people who are visiting Scotland because they may have seen an historical film such as Outlaw King or a cable TV series such as Outlander.”
Lord Bruce said that having opened Broomhall House and its collection to visitors from overseas, he was increasingly aware of three aspects that emerge from this phenomenon.
“First, our guests are interested to meet a descendant of King Robert’s family,” he said.
“Although his own royal line died out with his son David II, his family survived – but only just. We are descended from his only surviving brother Edward, who was High King of Ireland.
“Second, there is virtually nothing tangible – in any public collection in Scotland – which can connect and transport us back to the reign of King Robert.
“Fortunately we still hold his sword of state at Broomhall. It’s a magnificent two-handed medieval weapon that’s been passed from father to son since the mid-14th Century.
“And third, I’m finding that our guests want to know more about the life and times of a king who ruled Scotland for 23 years (1306-1329).
“The film The Outlaw King only focuses on two years of his reign (130608) and doesn’t have the time or space to develop a fully rounded understanding of King Robert.
“He was a highly complex character – both a warrior and a statesman – but also capable of acts of surprising piety that betray a deeply spiritual man.
“It’s not difficult to understand why he was considered the reincarnation of King Arthur by his contemporaries.”
Lord Bruce said the other thing which is important to mention, is the fact most people will get the chance to see The Outlaw King because they subscribe to Netflix.
He added: “I understand that Netflix has 140 million subscribers across the world who will be able to watch the film over and over again if they so wish!
“Clearly this will create a deep reservoir of curiosity about Scotland and its heritage that we can all drink from for years to come.”
How best can cash-strapped Courier Country bring the bonanza of riches promised by the Scottish film industry flowing into its coffers? The question has tantalised local authorities, tourism groups and businesses of all sizes since the cameras started rolling.
With settings from glorious countryside and coastline to gritty urban areas, there is no shortage of locations for every sort of movie, television show and advert.
An army of caterers, designers, craftsmen and creative talent is on every potential movie shoot’s doorstep.
And the transport links from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are not perfect but are currently adequate for a burgeoning industry.
Fife, especially, within sight of the new Scottish movie studio in Leith, seems an obvious choice for filming.
So much is in place but more can be done to attract industry experts, to train local talent and to prove our “big time” credentials.
TayScreen, which works to bring production crews to Tayside and Fife, estimates £5 million was poured into the area last year thanks to location work on the likes of Outlander and Outlaw King.
It should be so much more.
The world is waking up to Scotland’s potential as a vast movie set.
Action is needed now to ensure we are ready to receive it.