The Stone of Destiny papers
Natalie Milne
(First published in Dunaskin News, March 2002)
Even those in possession of only a limited knowledge of Scottish history have heard of the Stone of Destiny. The entire story of that block of red sandstone is full of drama and intrigue, and Glasgow University Archive Services has material relating to one of its most fascinating episodes.
Also known as the Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny is an oblong block of red sandstone imbued with a legendary history originating from biblical times. The stone is supposed to originate in the Middle East, and was brought to Scotland around 850 AD. The Celtic name of the stone is Lia Fail -“the speaking stone” as legend has it that it named the chosen King of Dalraida; Kenneth I, 36th King of Dalraida.
MacBeth was the first of the Scottish monarchs to be crowned while seated on the stone in the 11th century. In 1292 John Balliol became the last King to use the stone on Scottish soil, as it was removed by Edward 1st of England in 1296 and placed at Westminster Abbey - thence incorporated into the English throne. From that point onwards the Stone of Destiny became integral to Scottish history, a symbol of the country’s independence stolen by the English crown. The call for it’s return to it’s rightful home did not wane with the passing years and, for nationalists, it’s retrieval became not only a matter of principal but almost one of necessity in terms of regaining Scottish independence.
On Christmas day 1950, the stone was taken from Westminster by a group of four Glasgow University student nationalists. It disappeared for four months and was then found at the altar of Arbroath Abbey draped in a Scottish flag. Numerous misleading trails were placed, and conspiracy theories of duplicate stones abound. However once found, this stone was returned to Westminster in February 1952 and remained there for another 44 years. On St Andrew’s Day 1996, the Stone officially came back to Scotland and was installed in Edinburgh Castle.
The papers in Glasgow University Archive Services consist of a leather briefcase of papers relating to the theft of the stone in 1950. Gifted to the University’s current Chancellor, Sir William Kerr Fraser many years ago by the Detective Inspector in charge of the case north of the border, the collection makes interesting reading. As well as detailed statements made by the suspects and witnesses there are police notes on anonymous information sources and the misleading trails. The inventiveness of the culprits and their accomplices is apparent in the papers. It also contains a file of surveillance photographs with accompanying notes. No light is shed on whether the stone currently on display in Edinburgh is truly the one stolen from Westminster.
Access to the collection is at the discretion of the University Archivist and should be sought in writing in advance.
For further reading on the Stone of Destiny papers in Glasgow University Archive Services see: Jim McBeth, “The Stone of Scone: Archives reveal how stone snatchers were caught” in Avenue: The Magazine for graduates and friends of the University of Glasgow, Issue 21, January 1997.
