The National Trust for Scotland have created this Heritage Centre overlooking the site of the victory of Robert the Bruce over King Edward II of England on 23/24 June, 1314. In a rotunda, towering over the site, is the statue of The Bruce, astride his armoured horse, battle-axe in hand. The statue, by Pilkington Jackson, was unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen in June 1964. Nearby, dioramas explain where the battle took place, when King Edward II advanced into Scotland to relieve his garrison at Stirling Castle - the last remaining English stronghold in Scotland, after Bruce's successful campaign over the previous decade.
It is estimated that the over-confident Edward had 16,000 infantry, 2,500 mounted knights and that his supply train stretched for 20 miles. The Scottish army had 6,000 spearmen and only 500 lightly armoured horsemen. The English cavalry charged but were driven back by the Scots pikemen in their "schiltrons" (squares of spear-carriers, several layers deep). The following day, the English attacked again but the well chosen battleground, with a narrow front allowed the Scots to drive them back into the Bannock Burn. Overall, 3/4,000 in the English army were lost and the Scottish casualties were light. King Edward II escaped back to England but the baggage train with all its equipment provided Scotland with a significant addition to her wealth.
The Heritage Centre at Bannockburn (which is not far from Stirling) has been built on what is believed to be where Robert the Bruce had his command post and directed his troops. In addition to the battlefield and King Robert's statue, the centre has an audio visual presentation on the Battle of Bannockburn and an exhibition "The Kingdom of the Scots" showing some of Scotland's history.
