William Wallace Statue, Bemersyde
The William Wallace Statue is a statue commemorating William Wallace, standing in the grounds of the Bemersyde estate, in western Berwickshire.
The estate is beside the River Tweed, the nearest town being Melrose, across in Roxburghshire. The statue here was commissioned by David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan: it was carved of red sandstone by John Smith of Darnick and was erected in 1814.[1] It stands 31 feet high and depicts Wallace looking over the River Tweed.
The statue is today protected as a Category B listed building.[2] In 1991, the Saltire Society raised funds for a renovation which was carried out by Bob Heath and Graciella Glenn Ainsworth.
At Wallace's feet reads the inscription:[3]
- Erected by David Stuart
- Erskine, Earl of Buchan
- WALLACE
- GREAT PATRIOT HERO!
- ILL REQUITED CHIEF!
- MDCCCXIV
Below the statue, as part of the same construction by John Smith is a smaller statue of a funeral style urn inscribed as follows:
- Sacred to the memory of Wallace
- The peerless Knight of Ellerslie [sic]
- Who wav'd on Ayr's Romantic shore
- The beamy torch of Liberty
- And roaming round from Sea to Sea
- From Glade obscure of gloomy Rock
- His bold companions call'd to free
- The Realm from Edward's Iron Yoke.[4]
Close by are Brotherstone Hill, Dryburgh Abbey, the Leaderfoot Viaduct, Newtown St Boswells, Scott's View and the Smailholm Tower.
Outside links
- Location: 55°35’10"N, 2°38’58"W
- Discover the Borders