Over the last few years, one or two writers have made claim over Wallace hailing from Ayrshire. As this data seems to be receiving more and more credit, I, on behalf of the Society of William Wallace, would like to lay down some sort of semblance of the truth for interested parties to peruse at leisure. Many Ayrshire claims have been based around Craigie Castle, or various documents pertaining to that establishment. The ruins of this edifice stand near the village of Craigie, which lies between Kilmarnock and Ayr, close to the A77. This castle was a Wallace property, but not before 1371, when a Wallace, John by name, married the Lindsay heiress who had inherited Craigie, and so acquired the property and title. As William Wallace the patriot was born sometime around 1270, the impossibility as his birthplace is obvious.
In fact, William Wallace is known in history as the Knight of Ellerslie or Elderslie. Both these names are one and the same - both mean the field of the Elder trees, and Elderslie of course stands close to Paisley in Renfrewshire. Where this mis-understanding has occurred is the fact that there is a house by the name of Ellerslie near Kilmarnock, and claims have been made by some - hard bending of the facts - that this was William Wallace’s birthplace. The fact is that this house does not appear on maps as Ellerslie before 1835, and as it was attached to a small colliery and brickworks, the chances are that it was named by a patriotic owner.
www.thesocietyofwilliamwallace.com/williamwallaceofelderslie.htm
paisley.is/visit/wallace-monument/
28 авг 2022
