Gift Card

Stands 9.5cm tall and is cast from high quality 100% lead-free pewter. Presented on a base of polished wood, using off-cuts from our bagpipe workshops.

William Wallace is famous as the champion of Scottish Independence. Following the tragic death of Alexander III, Scotland was left without a king. Seizing the opportunity, Edward I of England first placed a puppet on the Scottish throne, then invaded in great force in 1296, apparently extinguishing the kingdom. In the following year risings against English rule spread throughout Scotland. In Ayrshire and the south west, Wallace followed Sir Richard of Lundie, and they attacked and killed the English appointed Sheriff of Lanark, William Heselrig, triggering the great revolt. Wallace led a guerrilla war from Ettrick forest. His forces of the south joined with Andrew Murray’s of the north and together they confronted the English at Stirling Bridge in 1297, where they achieved a stunning victory. In this victory though, Murray was left fatally wounded. By accident Wallace now found himself the most powerful man in Scotland and was granted the title ‘Guardian of Scotland’. This rise of a low-born to such high office was unprecedented in medieval society, indicating Wallace’s charisma and ability as a leader. The guardian was defeated by Edward I in person at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298; he was soon betrayed and taken to London and executed with great brutality.

The Gordon Highlanders were originally raised by General George Gordon, fifth Duke of Gordon in 1794. It served throughout the Napoleonic Wars, famously grabbing hold of the stirrups of the Scots Greys Cavalry, charging into battle at Waterloo, to cries of ‘Scotland Forever!’ In 1881 they merged with the Stirlingshire Regiment, although retained the name of the Gordons. In 1994 the regiment merged with others to form the Highlanders Regiment, now in turn part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Stands 10.5cm tall and is cast from high quality 100% lead-free pewter. Presented on a base of polished wood