William Wallace Birthplace Memorial

This marker correlates with the plaques attached to the memorial. Information for each plaque is included and located below each plaque pictured.

The Yew Tree This tree is known locally as the Wallace Yew. It is thought to be 300 years old. It has been surveyed and a programme of treatment is under way to improve its health. The Wallace Oak An ancient oak which stood by the burn on the north side of the main road was the traditional site of an incident in the epic 15th century about Wallace by Blind Harry. Like Robin Hood, Wallace was said to have hidden from his enemies in the tree, along with an impossible number of his men. An acorn from the tree, which fell in 1856, was planted in Fountain Gardens in Paisley. The Cult of William Wallace Every generation has reinvented William Wallace to meet its own needs. In medieval ballads he was described as a Robin Hood figure, an outlaw of the greenwood. Blind Harry, the 15th century Scottish poet, laid the foundations of a national hero-cult in his epic poem The Wallace. In the early 20th century the frieze on the monument had to compete with hundreds of statues to military heroes of the British Empire, so Wallace is made gigantic in body and mood- an expression of growing Scottish national feeling. A hundred years later our image of Wallace influenced by Hollywood. These changing images of Wallace tell us more about ourselves than they do about the man who was raised here and who served his country so well.

This plaque is to commemorate the historic tree planting of a cutting from the original Yew tree on the 16th of June 2011 by Renfrewshire Council leader Brian Lawson and children from Wallace Primary School Elderslie

This plaque is a replica of the marker that sits at the site of Wallace's execution in Smithfield, London

Wallace made his name by leading a series of lightning raids against key English targets. Joining forces with Sir Andrew Murray, he faced an English army at Stirling Bridge on 11th of September 1297. A sudden Scots charge trapped and routed the English force. Wallace followed this victory with an invasion of northern England.

Edward of England's invasion of Scotland in 1296 left the country leaderless. King John (Baliol) of Scotland was imprisoned and the nobility were split by rival factions. In May 1297 William wallace "raised his head"* and killed the Sheriff of Lanark. *From Fordun's Chronicle of the Scottish Nation

Replica of a plate on the floor at Westminster Hall It was ordered by Edward that after his revolting, barbaric execution, the head of Sir William Wallace be set on London Bridge one quarter of his body be suspended on the Gibbett at Newcastle-on-Tyne. another quarter at Berwick, another quarter at Stirling, and a fourth quarter at St. Johnstoun "He had no tomb He needed none" These six plaques erected A.D. 1970 by the Clan Wallace Society with the co-operation of the 2nd District Council of the county of Renfrew Clan Wallace Society Col. R.F.H. Wallace of that H.K, C.M.G Corsee, Nairn Honorary President A.F. Wallace of Candacraig Candacraig, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire Chairman, Advisory Board Charles B. Wallace Dalas, Texas, U.S.A. President 2nd District Council of the county of Renfrew Matthew Pritchard Chairman William Kilpatrick District Clerk

After his defeat at Falkirk, Wallace resigned the Guardianship but continued to serve as a field commander and as a diplomat in France and Italy. When the Scottish resistance collapsed in 1304 he fought on until his betrayal, capture, trial and execution in 1305. Robert the Bruce continued the struggle against the English and at Bannockburn in 1314 achieved victory, paving the way for Scotland's return to independence.

Soon after their victory at Stirling Bridge in September 1297 Murray and Wallace were acting as Generals of the Kingdom of Scotland. Murray died of wounds later in 1297 and by the spring of 1298 the Community of the Realm recognised Wallace as sole Guardian. He proved to be a confident and successful political leader.

Wallace Statue, Lanark designed by Robert Forrest 1817. Courtesy of South Lanarkshire Council.

Wallace Monument, Stirling designed by JT Roehead 1887. Courtesy of Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs Tourist Board.

Willam Wallace from a 19th century print, the Wallace Monument scrapbook. Courtesy Paisley Library & Museum.

Memorial Window Paisley Abbey, 1873 by James Ballantyne & Son, Edinburgh

Front details of the marker