New battlefields added to Inventory of Historic Battlefields

Historic Scotland has announced the completion of the initial stage and development of its Inventory of Historic Battlefields. Eleven more Scottish battlefields have been added to the inventory, making a total of 39 historic sites which have been officially recognised since the Scottish Historic Environment Policy was amended to include battlefields in 2009.

The eleven newest sites added to the inventory are:

• Blar-na-Leine (1544)
• Dunbar I (1296)
• Dunkeld (1689)
• Glen Livet (1594) - pictured
• Inverlochy I (1431)
• Langside (1568)
• Loudoun Hill (1307)
• Roslin (1303)
• Sauchieburn (1488)
• Skirmish Hill (1526)
• Tippermuir (1644)

Other battlefields could still be added to the inventory at a later date, if new information on these comes to light. Dr Iain Banks, who alongside Dr Tony Pollard, carried out the battlefield research, said: 'The Inventory of Scottish Battlefields is the first time that Scotland’s iconic battlefields have been given any protection, and it has been a privilege to be involved in the creation of the Inventory.  These sites preserve the last traces of historical events that shaped the nation of Scotland through history, and there is no substitute for visiting the battlefields for understanding what happened in each battle.  

'The battles of Scottish History have been preserved in legends, poems and songs, and they are a unique resource to get visitors to explore the Scottish landscape.  

'What we have found when researching the battlefields is that there is never any difficulty in persuading people of the importance of a particular site; the most difficult job has been explaining why individual battlefields have not made it onto the Inventory. We have been really astonished at the high levels of enthusiasm for the preservation of battlefields at the local level – people are fascinated by them and want to see them preserved.'

For more information on the Battlefields Inventory, visit the Historic Scotland Battlefields Inventory website.

(Image copyright Ann Harrison - Geograph project)

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