Leading historian backs crowdfunder to save historic Scottish house

We told in the Sunday National how a crowdfunder has been launched to help save the Grade-A listed Bannockburn House with an overall target of £100,000.

It was recently revealed that the house was the site of an attempted assassination on Bonnie Prince Charlie after a musket ball hole was discovered in one of the bedrooms.

Professor Murray Pittock (below) was among those to work on the project and helped confirm the authenticity of the discovery.

Professor Murray Pittock helped to authenticate the discovery of a musket ball hole in Bannockburn House (Image: Supplied)

“It’s so important to preserve Bannockburn House because the building is a key part of Scotland’s history, not least in the 18th century,” he told The National.

He further pointed out that it was also home to the Wilson family, who built their prosperous weaving business in Bannockburn into a major tartan producer.

“We have two stories here – the global reach of tartan and the story of the Jacobites,” Pittock said.

“The Wilson family of Bannockburn were kilt manufacturers and they owned the house in the 19th century.

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“The family put an extension on the house which changed the shape very considerably from the way it had been in 1745 and made the house more like what it is today.

“They were key in building up the international tartan business and were among the first to codify tartan and create hunting tartans, antique tartan sets to create more sales.”

He has also called on anybody who feels they are able to do so to donate to the crowdfunder.

“I’d recommend people who feel they can contribute to Bannockburn House (below) to do so because it requires a lot of help,” he said.

(Image: NQ)

“I have to say the volunteers who have been engaged in the work have done an enormous amount of work on a really thing budget and have put in thousands of hours on their own behalf.

“It’s a dedicated team.”

The house can be found between two major roads leading to Stirling Bridge, and has been owned by a number of influential Scots.

This also included Sir Hugh Paterson, 1st Baronet of Bannockburn, whose sons became influential MPs and participated in the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745.

It lay empty from around the 1960s until Bannockburn House Trust took ownership in 2017 in what was the biggest community buyout in the UK.

Pittock explained there is a “shopping” list of work which needs done to help preserve the building.

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“The cornicing in Charles Edward Stuart’s bedroom is about to collapse, so a significant part of the historic fabric is at risk there,” he said.

“There’s a superb 1680s plaster ceiling which is very badly stained and could do with being upgraded.

“There are just basic issues with making the roof wind and watertight to prevent any further damage.

“There’s a whole shopping list out there, but I’m sure anything given to support Bannockburn House will lead to something being done which will benefit it.

“To be absolutely frank, it does need a significant amount of basic work to ensure it continues to be wind and watertight. A lot has been done already but there’s a lot still to do.”

The crowdfunder can be found HERE and will be running until October 15, having raised more than £1700 already.

It states: “Our overall goal is to raise enough to fund the works and operating costs needed to help save the house and estate, keep the doors open, and continue to provide benefit for the community.”