History
After the Battle of Dunbar (1296), in which King Edward I had sent his commander, the Earl of Surrey, north in answer to a refusal by the Scottish King John Balliol to support his wars in France, the Scottish commanders Andrew Moray and William Wallace had succeeded in bringing under their control the vast majority of Scotland north of the River Forth. Stirling marks a key entry point into the north of Scotland and as such was seen as vital in any conquest of Scotland as a whole. When Warrene travelled north he was met by Moray and Wallace at the narrow bridge crossing…
Battle
On 11th September 1297 the Earl of Surrey, John de Warrene, met with the forces of Andrew Moray and William Wallace at Stirling Bridge. Leading his troop of English, Welsh and Scots soldiers across the narrow bridge proved to be a tactical blunder and led to huge losses. This battle was a major victor for the Scots and disproved the common belief that cavalry forces were superior to infantry, and showed that in certain situations this disadvantage could be overcome. Although the victory was shortlived, Wallace was defeated at Falkirk the following year, the battle is still remembered to this day.
Step into the past at The Wallace Monument
This September the Wallace Monument in Stirling will be running a number of events, including “Scotland’s National Hero” and “A Battle Won” that will see costumed actors and historians retelling the tales of the time. On the 11th September there will be a “Battle of Stirling Bridge” performance recreating the momentous event.
The Wallace Monument website: https://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/
