Bruce Tree facts for kids

The Bruce Tree was a very old oak tree that grew at Strathleven House in Dunbartonshire, Scotland. People believed it was planted by Robert the Bruce, who was a famous Scottish king. This amazing tree was between 700 and 1,000 years old! Sadly, it was damaged by a fire in May 2004 and fell down. But its wood was saved and used to create a special replica of Robert the Bruce's throne.

The Story of the Bruce Tree

The Bruce Tree was a giant oak that stood on the land of Strathleven House. This estate once belonged to a young Robert the Bruce, long before he became King of Scotland. Many people believe he planted the tree himself.

By the early 2000s, the tree's trunk was huge, about 8.8 meters (29 feet) around. It also reached about 5.5 meters (18 feet) tall. It was one of the oldest oak trees in all of Scotland. Sadly, in May 2004, someone set fire inside its trunk. The tree fell down that same month.

A local history group called the Strathleven Artizans took care of the tree's timber after it fell. They were the ones who first connected the tree to Robert the Bruce. When they cut up the trunk, some members even thought they could see Robert the Bruce's face in the wood! They also found a very old, hardened acorn inside.

The Artizans had a special plan for some of the wood. They wanted to carve a heart from the oak. This heart would then be taken to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This was because Robert the Bruce had a dying wish. He wanted his heart to be taken to the Holy Land, as he couldn't go on a crusade himself. His champion, James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, tried to fulfill this wish. But Douglas was killed in battle in 1330, so he couldn't complete the journey.

The Bruce Throne

Robert the Bruce shown sitting on a throne on his royal seal.

The Strathleven Artizans used some of the oak wood to build a copy of Robert the Bruce's throne. They got the idea from an old picture of Bruce on his royal seal, where he is shown sitting on a throne.

A carver named John Donaldson worked with an expert from Historic Scotland to create the throne. It took them eight years to finish it! The throne also includes wood from other special places. It has yew wood from a tree at Elderslie, which was the birthplace of William Wallace. William Wallace was another famous Scottish hero. The throne also uses ancient olive wood from Teba, where James Douglas fought his last battle. The finished throne has four animal heads at the ends of its arms and feet shaped like claws.

The new throne was first shown at Dunfermline Abbey by Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin. Later, it was displayed at the Battle of Bannockburn visitor center. This was part of a big event in June 2014. It marked 700 years since Robert the Bruce's great victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.