MEDIEVAL props made by prisoners at HMP Dumfries will be at the centre of the 750th anniversary celebrations of Robert the Bruce later this summer.
As part of a year-long programme of events to celebrate the birth of the Scottish king, the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust in partnership with The People’s Project Dumfries, The Imaginarium and The Gallovidian way, are hosting a medieval market and fayre on the weekend of July 13 and 14.
Prop building for the event started back in January with community groups across the region. HM Prison Dumfries agreed to make a set of stocks and a face in the hole board for photo opportunities over the weekend to support the project.
As the project developed, the team building the props enjoyed the project so much that they also asked if they could make a throne for Robert the Bruce and 12 shields with coats of arms of local medieval families.
Anne Simpson, of The People’s Project, was the liaison with the prison throughout the project and she was impressed by the level of dedication and creativity from those who took part. She said: “It was a pleasure working with HM Prison Dumfries, staff and inmates. The enthusiasm and creativity have been amazing. We are extremely grateful to the prison and the businesses who have donated materials to make this project possible. They have made props way beyond our expectations.
“Such was the enthusiasm of the inmates, we now have two sets of stocks and 24 shields which will be used to decorate the town, possibly in shop windows. The two magnificent thrones for Bruce and his Queen will take pride of place at his court at the Plainstanes on Saturday 13 July.”
