Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn to be restored

Historic Scotland has announced that the 1960s Pilkington Jackson statue of Robert the Bruce is to be restored as part of a £9.1 million project to transform the Bannockburn Visitor Centre.

The 1960s Robert the Bruce statue by Bannockburn, sculpted by Pilkington Jackson, is to be restored as part of a £9.1 million project to rebuild the Bannockburn Visitor Centre, due to be completed in 2014. 

National Trust for Scotland Bannockburn project director David McAllister said: 'From the start of this project it has been crucial for us to balance the commemoration of the site alongside the telling of the story of the battle. This site has attracted memorials and tributes for centuries. Our plans will use three dimensional technology to create an unrivalled experience, but the essence of what we are doing is part of a well established tradition. Now that we have confirmation of £4.1m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £5m from the Scottish Government we can finalise our plans for the repairs to the monuments.'

Chris McGregor, Historic Scotland Head of Major Projects added: 'The current centre sits directly in the line of sight between the entrance to the centre and the monument so we have deliberately planned the new building to sit off to the side to open up the view to the monument from the road and focus the visitor's attention as it was intended to do. The feedback we had the last time we met with the community was overwhelmingly positive and I really hope they are as impressed with the progress we have made since then.

'Work will start on the rotunda, flagpole and the Bruce statue as part of the main building contract. Due to corrosion over the decades most people immediately assume that the statue was always intended to be green but the specialist conservators will return this beautiful sculpture to its original bronze finish.'