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Stone of Destiny
This tartan was designed by Polly Wittering to commemorate the return of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster in 1996. The Stone of Destiny - also known as the Stone of Scone, and often referred to in England as The Coronation Stone - is an oblong block of red sandstone that was used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, and later the monarchs of England.
Historically, the artefact was kept at the now-ruined Scone Abbey in Scone, near Perth, Scotland. It is also known as Jacob's Pillow Stone and the Tanist Stone, and in Scottish Gaelic, ‘clach-na-cinneamhain’. Many legends exist as to its origins. Some link it to Fergus, son of Eric, the first King of Scots, bringing the Stone from Ireland, perhaps having been used at Tara for the High Kings of Ireland.
In 1296 the Stone was captured by Edward I as spoils of war and taken to Westminster Abbey where it was fitted into a wooden chair – known as King Edward’s Chair – on which most subsequent English sovereigns have been crowned.
The Stone of Scone was last used in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Some doubt exists over the stone captured by Edward I, and that the English troops were tricked into taking a substitute. On Christmas Day 1950, a group of four Scottish students removed the Stone from Westminster Abbey to return to Scotland, during which the stone broke into two pieces. The stone was repaired and placed in Arbroath Abbey, and subsequently removed by London police back to Westminster in 1951. Again, some rumours persist that they took a substitute! On 15 November 1996, the Stone was returned and has been placed in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle.
Choose from one of the Stone Of Destiny tartans listed below:
