Westminster Stone theory facts for kids

The Westminster Stone theory is an idea some historians and experts believe. They think the stone under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey is not the real Stone of Destiny. Instead, they believe it's a different stone from the 1200s. People who support this idea call it the 'Westminster Stone' to avoid mixing it up with the 'real' Stone of Destiny.

A writer and historian named Nigel Tranter was a big supporter of this idea. He wrote about it in his books. Other historians, like James S. Richardson, who checked old monuments, also believed this theory.

The Stone of Destiny: A Royal History

The Stone of Destiny was a special stone used to crown the Kings of Scotland. Before that, it was used for the Kings of Dál Riata. Some old stories say Saint Columba brought it from Ireland. It might have been his portable altar. In 574 AD, the Stone was used when Saint Columba crowned Aedan as King of Dál Riata.

Monks at Iona kept the Stone of Destiny safe for a long time. Iona was an important place for the Scottish Celtic church. But when Vikings attacked, the monks moved the Stone to the mainland. First, it went to Dunkeld, then to Scone. It continued to be used for coronations there. It was a strong symbol of Scottish kingship.

King Edward I Takes the Stone

In 1296, Edward I of England wanted to conquer Scotland. He led his army into Scotland. Edward's army attacked Berwick and won a battle at Dunbar. Then they surrounded Edinburgh Castle. After that, Edward went to Scone. He planned to take the Stone of Destiny, which was kept at Scone Abbey.

He had already taken other Scottish royal items from Edinburgh. These included Saint Margaret's Black Rood (a special cross). But taking the Stone of Destiny was even more important. It was very precious to the Scots and a symbol of their freedom. Edward took it back to Westminster Abbey. He placed it inside the English throne. This showed his claim to rule over Scotland. This is the stone that stayed in Westminster until 1996. It was then returned to Scotland.

Was the Stone Switched?

The Westminster Stone theory says the stone Edward took was not the real Stone of Destiny. They believe it was a different stone. Edward's army reached the Scottish border in March 1296. But they didn't get to Scone until June. This gave the Scots three months to plan. They had a good reason to switch the stone to protect the real one.

The Abbot of Scone, who looked after the Stone, might have arranged the switch. The 'Stone of Destiny' could have been moved to a safe place. Edward would then have been tricked with a different piece of sandstone.

Where is the True Stone?

Many ideas exist about where the 'True Stone' might be hidden. Some ideas are based on logic, while others are more like hopeful stories.

Nigel Tranter thought the Abbot of Scone first hid the True Stone. He believed it was later given to Aonghus Óg Mac Domhnaill by Robert the Bruce. Aonghus Óg hid it in his home, the Hebrides islands. Tranter thought the stone might still be there.

One story says the True Stone was passed down through a family branch in Sleat. A person from this family, C. Iain Alasdair MacDonald, wrote to Tranter. He claimed he was now the Stone's guardian. He said it was hidden on the Isle of Skye.

What is the Evidence?

Reasons for a Switch

• The Westminster Stone looks like a rough piece of sandstone. It's not very special or unique. It has iron loops on top, which might have been for carrying it.
• Edward I would have noticed a newly carved stone. But a piece of old, weathered sandstone could have looked ancient. The Westminster Stone has a weak spot. It broke in half when it was moved from Westminster Abbey in 1950.
• Geologists say the Westminster Stone is 'lower Old Red Sandstone'. This type of stone is found near Scone. This means it's not the stone from Iona mentioned in older records.
• Old descriptions and pictures suggest the original stone was larger. They say it was darker, possibly basalt or marble, and had fancy carvings.
• The Scots never asked for the Westminster Stone back for over 100 years. This is strange if it was an important item. In 1328, the English wanted peace and signed the Treaty of Northampton. This treaty was good for Scotland. It said the Scottish regalia and St Margaret's Black Rood should be returned. But it didn't mention the Stone of Scone. Tranter said the English offered to return the stone, but the Scots weren't interested.

Reasons Against a Switch

Many historians and those who care for the Stone do not believe the Westminster Stone theory. There are strong reasons against it.

• If Edward I took a fake stone, the Scots could have easily shown the real one to prove him wrong. But there is no record of them doing this.
• Hiding the stone might have been smart while the English were a danger. But it was never shown once the danger was gone.
• The stone was not used for later Scottish coronations. This would have happened if Scotland still had the real one.
• Many stories exist, but no proof has been found for another stone.
• If the Scots knew Edward was coming, why didn't they hide the other royal items too?
• English knights saw the true stone at King John of Scotland's coronation a few years before. None of them told Edward his stone was a fake.
• In 1996, experts studied the Stone after it returned to Scotland. They found nine different periods of work on its surface. This shows it is a very old object.
• Edward had Scottish nobles who supported him. They would have known if the stone was real or fake.
• Dunsinane Hill has remains of an old hill fort linked to Macbeth. But no buildings from the 11th century (Macbeth's time) have been found there.

Another Idea: The 1950 Switch

On Christmas Day in 1950, four Scottish students took the Westminster Stone from the Abbey. It was hidden until April 1951. Then, a stone was left at Arbroath Abbey. Some people wonder if this was the original stone or a copy.

The stone left in Arbroath was broken. The Westminster Stone had broken in half when it was taken from the Coronation Chair. A stonemason from Glasgow named Robert Gray repaired it. However, Gray had made copies of the Stone in the 1930s. He later said he didn't know which stone was sent back to London. He said "there were so many copies lying around."

A plaque in St Columba's Parish Church in Dundee supports this idea. It claims to mark the site of the 'Stone of Scone'. It says 'Baillie Robert Gray' gave it to them in 1972.

Nigel Tranter explained why Gray and the students seemed to disrespect the Stone. The students had asked Tranter to help them after they took the stone. Tranter later said Gray put a note inside the Westminster Stone when he fixed it. The note supposedly said it was 'a block of Old Red Sandstone of no value to anyone'. But other reports say Gray never said what the note said.

However, in the 1940s, the British Geological Survey studied the Stone. This was when the Coronation Chair was being fixed. They noticed the fault line and many marks on the Stone's surface. This helped them check if the returned stone was real.

In 1973, a special scan confirmed that the repaired Westminster Stone was the real one. It showed 'three metal rods and sockets' inside. This proved that the original stone, not a copy, had been returned.