Wallace's Well at risk from developers...

[The_Kilted_Erse]

From the soc.culture.scottish newsgroups

Some photo's of the well and a diagram...

http://www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave...well/index.htm

WALLACE SITE AT RISK FROM DEVELOPERS, SAYS SOCIETY.

A campaign has been started to save an ancient well where Scots hero
William Wallace spent some of his last moments before capture. The spring,
known for centuries as Wallace's Well, is first mentioned by Scots bard
Blind Harry, whose epic poem was written in the 14th Century (think that
should be 15th, circa 1477).

Campaigners say Wallace's Well has come under threat - from housing put
up by a North-east developer - after being deleted from Historic Scotland's
list of protected monuments. More that 800 houses have already been built in
the deveopment close to the site. The Society of William Wallace said
yesterday that the well at Robroyston, Glasgow, was one of only a handful of
remaining sites directly associated with Scotland's great hero. The
Society's vice-chairman, Duncan Fenton, said;"Only in Scotland could an
historic site like Wallace Well be allowed to come under threat. It would be
a tragedy if we lost this site. It is one of the few remaining tangible
links that we have in Scotland with our national hero. The preservation of
sites of historic interest in Scotland has never been as good as in other
countries - England in particular."

The Society of William Wallace is calling for people to monitor
bulldozers' progress near the well, and inform the society of future plans
to develop the site. William Wallace was captured at a farmhouse just a few
yards from the well 696 years ago, an August 5, 1305. He was in Rab Rae's Toun - Robroyston - on his way to Glasgow to plead with the Bishop of
Glasgow, Robert Wishart, for help in his fight for Scottish Independence.
The sympathetic bishop had supplied him with money, arms and food while he
was on the run from the English. Wallace was betrayed by the farms owner,
Rab Rae, brother of his mistress, Ailish Rae, to the "Scots" noble Sir John
Mentieth, and through that captured late at night by English troops, before
being taken to London where he was hanged, drawn and quartered on a dubious charge of treason, although he owed no allegience to Edward I and had never
sworn it as many of his compatriots had.

Wallace's close friend, Kerlie, who was with him when he was captured,
was killed near the well. Historic Scotland deleted the site from a list of
protected properties in March 1993, despite historians' certainty that
Wallace spent some of his last moments as a free man drinking from the
spring. The site of the nearby farmhouse was marked with a Celtic Cross in
1900. Mr Fenton said;"In recent years, the area around the monument and
Wallace's Well, has been extensively developed. Although the cross is
listed, the possibility of the well being swept away by an unsypathetic
building contractor is very real. The most respected historians throughout
centuries of written documentation, are in agreement that it is more
probable than possible that William Wallace took his last drink as a free
man at the spring. It would seem that the views of these experts is not
enough proff to protect the site. For centuries people have called the site
Wallace's Well. Our greatest fear is that without protection, it could
disappear overnight, as happened to Cathcart Castle in 1980".

Wallace's Well was statutorily listed in 1970. Historic Scotland says
that the well was delisted after a change of criteria, and it was decided
that the site was of insufficient interest to warrant protection. It says
that Wallace's connection to the site is unsubstabtiated in documentary
evidence.

A spokesman for Stuart Milne Homes, which recently gained permission to
build 250 more homes near the well, said the company had employed
archaeologists to try to substantiate the Wallace link. Spokesman Alasdair
Landells added;" We are well aware of the interest in the Robroyston
delelopment and its connection with William Wallace. We are in talks with
the bodies involved, and at the moment we are happy to work with them. We
are not insensitive to their needs and concerns".

Press and Journal (May 7th)


[Edited by The_Kilted_Erse on 9th May 2001 at 17:42]

[Celyn]

I'm glad this was posted - I had vaguely heard something about this, but missed it in the papers.

What a stupid idea - there is other land in the area that could be used for house building.

Perhaps the only surpise is that Glasgow City Council does not want to build a motorway over it as well.

[joshua_y]

Originally posted by Celyn
I'm glad this was posted - I had vaguely heard something about this, but missed it in the papers.

What a stupid idea - there is other land in the area that could be used for house building.

Perhaps the only surpise is that Glasgow City Council does not want to build a motorway over it as well.

no kidding...this is ridiculous!

[GlasgowGuide]

Anyone interested in how this matter has progressed over the years, or rather has not, should visit the following recently launched website to draw public attention to the danger to Wallace's Well and the Robroyston Wallace Monument.

The History of the Glasgow William Wallace Monument

[tig]

Originally Posted by The_Kilted_Erse

http://www.braveheart.co.uk/macbrave...well/index.htm



[Edited by The_Kilted_Erse on 9th May 2001 at 17:42]

bloody disgrace

that link aint workin mate....and the link to the story on the site aint workin either

[GlasgowGuide]

Hi Tig, the link I posted to the new Wallace Monument website should work, here:

Robroyston.org :: The History of the Glasgow William Wallace Monument

Please give it another try...

GG.

[tig]

cheers mate

i spent my whole childhood playin near there(still only live 10 mins away)


historic scotland should be mothballed if they dont save it