William Wallace & Stirling
Scotland’s Heroines – marking their place in history
In 1886, the marble busts of Robert Burns and King Robert the Bruce were unveiled in ‘The Hall of Heroes’ in the Monument, recognising the achievement of two of the most famous of all Scotsmen, who each had secured their own place in history.
A further 14 busts of famous Scotsmen were added over time – the last in 1907 – creating the gallery which is now such a distinctive feature of the Monument.
Every one of the characters profiled in the gallery reflects the spirit of William Wallace through their commitment to liberty, through their opposition to discrimination and inequality, and by the lengths which they went to in order to improve the lives of other people.
In 2019, the Monument added the first female figureheads to The Hall of Heroes. From a shortlist of 14 remarkable women who have contributed so much to the story of Scotland, whether through their determination, their fortitude or their spirit, Mary Slessor and Maggie Keswick Jencks received the highest number of votes in a public vote which spanned the world.
Learn more about each heroine here (PDF download).
Photo (above): Busts of Mary Slessor and Maggie Keswick Jencks with their sculptors, Csilla Karsay (left) and Graciela Ainsworth (right).
