Destiny's Stone, Not Destiny's Child
It’s an atmospheric start to the day. A lone piper stood on the rocks on the beach and played laments and stirring marching tunes, the skirls of his bagpipes mixing with the sound of crashing waves and seagulls. Magic! And some magic has also been sprinkled on the city of Perth with the return of the historic Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, back to its home after so many years.
Edward I, known as Longshanks, stole the stone in the late 13th century when he was busy fighting the Scots and it was placed in Westminster Abbey as a part of the coronation throne for some 700 years. It has had an eventful history. The throne and the Stone of Destiny was bombed by Suffragettes in 1914 when a nail bomb split the stone in two. Then it was "liberated” by Scots students in 1950, then subsequently returned to London, before finally winging its way back to the Nation in 1996. Now the Perth Museum opens its doors with the Stone of Destiny as its centrepiece, following a £27m redevelopment of the former city hall. The stone sits alongside more than 3,000 local objects, spanning 10,000 years. Also included in this new and fascinating museum is Bonny Prince Charlie’s sword, on display for the very first time. The Stone of Destiny temporarily returned to London last year for the coronation of King Charles III. It’s part of an immersive experience and it has received rave reviews.
Entry to the museum is free but you need to plan a bit with advance booking generally required if you wish to see the Stone of Destiny, although limited on-the-day tickets will be available so they say. Security will be tight too as the chequered history of the stone shows. The new museum is hoping to grab some of the visitors heading to the Highlands who often duck going to Perth at the moment. And the museum is the perfect size for a visit without fatigue setting in.
If you are in Perth you can treat yourself to this new museum and if you are looking to save some money on a very special gift you can treat yourself and others with some of James Pirie’s great value offers. Take a gander at the 4 Thistle engraved Flower of Scotland Whisky Tumblers from Royal Scot Crystal in a lovely presentation box. They’ve got a massive 60% off, come with free delivery and free gift wrapping, just tick the box at check out.
