Hole in wall at historic home reveals centuries-old assassination attempt in Scotland
Bannockburn House is going through a renaissance.
First built in the 17th century, the Scottish historic estate was purchased by a community trust in 2017, with the goal of “saving the building and grounds from going into disrepair.”
Now, architects, historians and volunteers are working to preserve the home — and they just made a monumental discovery.
Volunteers Anne, Catherine and Anna, whose last names were not provided, were working in one of the bedrooms to conserve the wood paneling on the walls when they noticed something was off, according to a July 23 Facebook post from the Bannockburn House Trust.
Rumors about the room had been circling for years, according to the trust, and believing they may have found the evidence needed to confirm the story, the volunteers reached out to some experts.
A historian from the University of Glasgow and a Stirling Council archaeologist took a look at the hole, but “it wasn’t until after reaching out to an 89-year-old Edinburgh resident that they had enough evidence to look under the panel,” according to the trust
Underneath was a large hole, splitting the unfinished wood underneath and ripping through the grain, according to the trust.
Experts believe the square was actually a “secret panel” placed on the wall to cover up the hole and that the damage was caused by the shot of a musket, according to the trust.
“After years of hearing the story, it’s been fantastic to finally verify the existence of the musket ball hole,” Anne said in the post.
More importantly, a famous guest used the bedroom at the time the hole was made, meaning this wasn’t just an accidental hole, it was a near-miss assassination attempt, the trust said.
The room was used by “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” or Prince Charles Edward, also known as the Young Pretender.
Charles Edward was born in 1720 to the exiled Stuart King James VIII, a Roman Catholic known as the Old Pretender, according to the trust.
Believing he was the rightful heir to the British throne, Charles Edward gathered support and an army, later called the Jacobites, and left France, where he was living, to march on Scotland, according to the trust.
Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived first at Bannockburn House in 1745, the trust said, before leaving again for battles in Scotland moving toward London.
With Hanoverian forces recalled to London to defend the throne, Charles Edward retreated back to Scotland and Bannockburn House, using it for his headquarters in 1746, the trust said.
The Bonnie Prince fell ill while staying at the home and stayed in the room where the musket ball hole was found, according to the trust.
Charles Edward lost his claim to the throne and fled to France later in his life, according to the trust. He died in 1788 from a stroke and is now buried in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City with his father and brother.
“This discovery is a tangible link to a significant event in our history, and it’s crucial that we act now to preserve it for future generations,” operations manager Amanda Monaghan said in the post.
The trust continues to restore the home to “prevent further damage to this incredible house,” according to the post.
Bannockburn House is in Stirling, in central Scotland, about a 25-mile drive northeast from Glasgow.
