The National Wallace Monument, generally known as the Wallace Monument, is a 67-meter tower on the shoulder of the Abbey Craig, a hilltop overlooking Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace, a 13th- and 14th-century Scottish hero. Wallace, as he is often known, is one of the most powerful, evocative, and well-recognized figures from Scottish history. It is a fair bet that today his name is better known worldwide than most, if not all, of Scotland’s monarchs.
Wallace Monument commemorates 13th- and 14th-century Scottish hero Sir William Wallace
Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. He was appointed Guardian of Scotland and served until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in July 1298. In August 1305, Wallace was captured in Robroyston, near Glasgow, and handed over to King Edward I of England, who had him hanged, drawn, and quartered for high treason and crimes against English civilians. Since his death, Wallace has obtained a legendary status far beyond his homeland. He is the protagonist of Blind Harry’s 15th-century epic poem The Wallace and the subject of literary works by Jane Porter and Sir Walter Scott, and of the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart.
The tower was constructed following a fundraising campaign, which accompanied a resurgence of Scottish national identity in the 19th century. Completed in 1869 and funded entirely by subscriptions, the monument’s striking Victorian Gothic aesthetic is complemented by excellent historical displays inside. The monument’s four levels not only tell the story of Wallace and the victory at Stirling Bridge but of famous Scots throughout the centuries and the construction of the tower itself.
