The site of one of Scotland’s greatest battles will celebrate its 700th anniversary with a new state-of-the-art visitor and interpretation centre as the Heritage Lottery Fund today announced its support for the multi-million pound Battle of Bannockburn project. The project, which is a joint venture between the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland, was awarded a first round pass* for a grant of £3,692,100 and development funding of £163,000.

The Battle of Bannockburn is one of the most significant battles fought on British soil. It took place on the 23-24 June 1314 between the armies of Robert the Bruce and Edward II and resulted in victory for Bruce against almost overwhelming odds. It was a defining event in Scottish history leading to the declaration of Arbroath in 1320 and the acknowledgement of Scotland’s independence in 1328.

A new innovative visitor centre will use state-of-the-art technology to give visitors a true sense of the battle, from the social history of the time to medieval war craft. The landscape will also be enhanced to re-establish important historic views, such as to Stirling Castle.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “I am delighted that the HLF has given its initial support for the ambitious vision we have for the new centre to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. We announced the £5m of initial investment from the Scottish Government only last year and the project has come on leaps and bounds since then.

“I am thrilled that this funding will allow us to go even further in using cutting edge technology to immerse visitors in the experience of the battle while preserving the wider site as a place of commemoration and reflection.

“The new visitor centre will be a crucial part of a hugely important year that will also see Scotland host the Ryder Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the second Year of Homecoming in 2014.”

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, added: “To this day, the Battle of Bannockburn inspires artists, writers and political thinkers worldwide and is intrinsically linked to Scotland’s national identity. We are delighted to give our initial support to a project which will take the visitor experience to a new level, commensurate with the historical significance of this heritage site. Through this project, Bannockburn will be re-established as a significant tourist destination and valuable education resource.”

National Trust for Scotland Chief Executive Kate Mavor said: “This support will help make a visit to the battlefield a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience for families and amateur historians alike. It will help us bring to life the historical significance of Bannockburn and its relevance to us all today.”

Notes to editors

• *A first-round pass means the project meets our criteria for funding and we believe it has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals.  Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.

• Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. To date it has invested over £500million in Scotland’s heritage.

Further information

Heritage Lottery Fund: 
Shiona Mackay on 01786 870 638 / 07779 142 890
Laura Bates on 020 7591 6027 / 07915 608 729 or lbates@hlf.org.uk

Historic Scotland:
Lesley Brown on 0131 668 8603 / 07920 768 096 or lesley.brown@scotland.gsi.gov.uk 

National Trust for Scotland:
Sarah Cuthbert Kerr on 0844 493 2843 / 07713 786 277 or sckerr@nts.org.uk