Stirling
The city of Stirling lies approximately 8 miles to the west of Airth along the A905. It was named a city in the year 2002 by Her Majesty the Queen during her 50 year celebratary tour of Britain.
Stirling hosts a multitude of historic sites, Stirling Castle, The William Wallace Memorial and The Old Town Jail to name just three.
The castle was once the home of Scotlands Kings and contains many relics of ancient times past. The renaissance period Great Hall has recently been restored to its former glory and with its "King,s Gold" stonework, can be seen for miles as you approach the city from Airth along the A905.
The Old Town Jail was opened in 1847 to replace the overcrowded and disease ridden Tolbooth. A tour of The Old Town Jail is well worth taking part in, you,ll experience the atmosphere and horror of jail life at that time. you may even be "lucky" and be in the building when a desperate prisoner makes his jail break. Stay calm and follow the instructions of your guide and you should be safe enough.
The William Wallace Memorial stands proudly on top of Abbey Craig, overlooking the site of Wallace's famous victory over the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. Wallace's men were mostly of low social status and the majority of their weapons were hand made. None of them had armour of any kind. The English, perhaps thinking the Scots were little more than a rabble and would be unable to resist the armoured knights and men-at-arms advancing on them, decided to cross the River Forth via the bridge. The bridge, only wide enough to permit the crossing of two horsemen abreast, led on to ground that was soft almost marshy. With barely half of the English army across, and their great war horses bogged down in the soft ground, the Scots charged with their homemade spears. It was all over in an hour. The slaughter of English knights and horses was appauling and the remnants of the English army were forced to retire from the field.
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