The grant of £3,940,300 was announced today to the National Trust for Scotland for the project, as part of fundraising efforts.

HLF also announced a First Round pass* for a grant of £4,838,700 to refurbish Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall to create a safe home for The City of Glasgow and Glasgow University’s museum collections, and a centre of excellence for teaching and research in the cultural sector.

When construction work for the new centre at Bannockburn is confirmed, it will create an unrivalled experience for the thousands of people who visit the battle ground every year while affording dignity to this important historic site. 

Ground-breaking technology will be used to give visitors a true sense of the battle, from the social history of the time to medieval war craft. People will be able to interact with 3D digital images as never before, experiencing graphics which will respond with movement and commentary. Visitors will also have the chance to play their part in the battle and apply their newly acquired knowledge of tactics and weaponry to influence the outcome.

Key battlefield monuments will be repaired and the setting improved, including the A-listed rotunda that is located at the site of the historic Borestone, where Robert the Bruce raised his standard at the start of the battle. The landscape will also be enhanced to re-establish important historic views, such as to Stirling Castle, which was the objective of the battle.

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 overwhelming odds. It was a defining event in Scottish history. The National Trust of Scotland has been advised by a panel of academics to ensure rigour and scholarship in telling the authentic story of the site where the Visitor Centre is set to be complete for the 700th anniversary.

HLF’s award to Bannockburn comes on the back of a year which has seen £50million of Heritage Lottery Fund investment come to fruition in the transformation of four national tourist attractions – the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire, the acclaimed Riverside Museum in Glasgow, and in Edinburgh, the National Museum and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. With visitor figures already smashing all expectations, these museums and galleries are playing a key role in Scotland’s tourist economy, supporting economic growth while positioning Scotland on a world-stage as a forward-thinking creative nation with a deep pride in its heritage.

Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, added: “This is a ground-breaking project for Scotland and for the heritage sector. With this new facility, Bannockburn will be able to inspire visitors of all ages with an experience that reflects the cultural significance of this battle site. Even young people whose daily lives are filled with technology, from phones to games consoles, will be astounded by the interpretation as they enjoy learning about our past. I am delighted that it is our heritage which is providing an international showcase for the cutting-edge technology being developed here while also giving us a visitor centre which will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s culture, society and economy.”

National Trust for Scotland Chief Executive Kate Mavor said:  “The Trust is honoured to care for a site of such significance to Scotland and beyond. We are creating a stimulating experience that does this historic place justice and tells the complex story of this crucial battle as accurately as possible. It will bring visitors face to face with the realities of medieval warfare as well as setting the battle in the context of conflict in the 21st century. It’s exciting to be leading the charge in the innovative use of technology. I have no doubt our visitors will come away electrified by the new Battle of Bannockburn experience.”   

Kelvin Hall Support

Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund also announced its initial support for a project to breathe new life into Glasgow’s vast Victorian Kelvin Hall, former home to the Museum of Transport and the indoor International Sports Arena. An innovative project will create an exciting new cultural hub for the city providing modern, publicly accessible museum storage for the internationally-important Hunterian and Glasgow City collections. Around 400,000 objects, currently stored in various locations around the city, will be moved to the new facility including the only surviving complete suite of interiors by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Mrs Cranston’s Ingram Street tearooms. These will be conserved in public view.

A community learning base will be created where the public can explore and learn about the collections, while a Centre for Cultural and Heritage Skills will be established as a Scottish centre-of-excellence for learning. The Hunterian will create a Collections Study Centre to promote object-based research and teaching. Kelvin Hall will continue to also house local sporting facilities encouraging new audiences to the museum collections.
 
Notes to editors

The design team for Bannockburn include:
Architectural Team – Reiach and Hall with Sinclair Knight Merz (Engineer), Turner and Townsend (QS) and KJ Tait (M&E Engineers)

Interpretation consultant – Bright White. Bright White is a young York-based design consultancy with an impressive track record in designing truly creative visitor experiences. Working with the experts at CDDV, they are creating a unique, cutting edge exhibition for new visitor centre, including Hollywood-quality performance capture and 3D visualisation materials.

Landscape Architects – Ian White Associates

Digital Design - Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation (CDDV)

Further information

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

National Trust for Scotland:
Jim Whyteside on 0844 493 2425/ jwhyteside@nts.org.uk/ 07889 456 779.