Wallace's Well

Wallace's Well. . , WALLACE'S MONUMENT , The Celtic cross monument to Sir William Wallace was raised by public subscription through the efforts of the Rev David McCrea and the Scottish Patriotic Society. , , The monument marks the reputed site of the house in which William Wallace was betrayed. The cross was executed by McGlashen, sculptors, Edinburgh and is derived from St. Martin's cross, Iona. , , The 20 foot high Celtic cross was unveiled before a crowd of 1000 at 4.30pm on Saturday 4th August 1900 by Miss Emmeline McKerlie, a direct descendant of Kerlie, Wallace's faithful friend who was slain that fateful night. , , One of the inscriptions on the monument reads: "Wallace's heroic patriotism As conspicuous in his death as in his life So roused and inspired his country that Within nine years of his betrayal the work Of his life was crowned with victory and Scotland's independence regained on the Field of Bannockburn." , , Wallace was betrayed on the 5th of August 1305, by a Scottish knight, Sir John de Menteith (who was loyal to Edward), who turned over a table in a tavern as a sign to the English that the 'brigand' was among them. , , After his capture, Wallace was marched to London, tried for treason and declared guilty at Westminster Hall. The Scottish hero, who was 33, was then dragged through the streets before being hung, drawn and quartered, with his body parts displayed in various parts of Scotland as a warning to others. , , The cottage from where Wallace was taken stood until 1826. The well in its current form dates from about 1911 although there were earlier memorials. , , WALLACE'S WELL , About a 5 minute walk from the memorial next to the roadside near the farm of Royston Mains is Wallace's Well, and ancient spring said to have been used by the Scottish patriot and freedom fighter William Wallace whilst hiding in a cottage nearby. , , Tradition has it that when the great Scottish patriot visited Rab Raa's (or Rae's) Toun- Robroyston, on his way to Glasgow to plead with the Bishop of Glasgow, Robert Wishart, for assistance in his fight for Scottish Independence some nine hundred years ago, he was accustomed to drink the waters from this little well.