King Robert the Bruce Statue Heritage History Project for Annan Scotland

Annan Bruce Statue Project • The Statue • The Sculptor • The Statue's Location • Related Web Sites • Donors

King Robert the Bruce by Ruaraig Maciver
King Robert the Bruce
By Ruaraig Maciver
(not proposed statue)

Heirtage and history
The town of Annan and Annandale have strong historical links with the Bruce family. In the 13th century they were Lords of Annandale and would have occupied the town's fortified motte and bailey. Annan's location on a principal fordable crossing of the Solway Firth gave it strategic importance and it was destroyed many times in attack and counter attack during and after the war of independence.
Download a Short History of King Robert The Bruce
(PDF, 87kb)

Patron
The Earl of Elgin & Kincardine, K.T.

Committee Contacts
Chairman: Janette Weild,
Tel: 01461 203874
Vice Chairman: Jim Hawkins, Tel: 01461 203162
Secretary: Roderick McCallum, Tel: 01461 202104

c/o Annan Museum, Bank Street, Annan DG12 6AA
T: 01461 201384

Annan Bruce Statue Heritage Project

The Annan Bruce Statue Project was established in late 2007 to advance the acquisition of a statue of King Robert the Bruce to be placed on a vacant plinth on the front of Annan Town Hall.

That ambition has now been realised thanks to the generous support of public and private bodies and many individuals.

Pictured above: Bruce Unveiling - 15th January 2010
Photograph by Steve Matthews, Annandale Observer.

The erection of the Statue complements the recently created regional Bruce Trail and the improved presentation of the 12th century Motte and Bailey (see Heritage and History). The Brus Stane can also be seen in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall.

The Statue

The statue now erected shows the King as nation builder with the Declaration of Arbroath in his left hand and his sword in the other held in a gesture of peace. The statue not only completes the Town Hall but also reaffirms the place of the Bruce family in the towns history.

The place where the family's impact on Scotland began nearly 900 years ago. As Lords of Annandale for some 200 years the family was at the heart of the turbulent border history of that time.

This reconnection was underlined by the presence of Lord Bruce the eldest son of the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine KT, head of the Bruce family. Lord Bruce assisted by his six years old son, Benedict, unveiled a commemorative plaque and in the course of a stimulating speech spoke of the Statue reminding us that King Robert was not only a warrior but also a great statesman and of the remarkable achievement of the sculptor who had caught the King in a very expressive moment and, in that sense, had captured the space contained within him.

The Sculptor

The sculptor Andrew Brown has created a dynamic and imaginative representation of King Robert in his mature years. Andrew has his roots in Dumfries & Galloway. Other examples of his work can be seen on his website at www.andrewbrownsculpture.co.uk.

The Statue's Location (this section will be updated with photographs of the new statue in the next few weeks)

The photographs below show the Town Hall and the plinth on which the statue will be placed and the Artist carrying out a site inspection.

Artist Andrew Brown discussing the project with Project Co-ordinators Jim Hawkins and Roderick McCallum.