Welcome to the Strathleven Artizans

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NEWS PAGE

WELCOME TO STRATHLEVEN ARTIZANS

The Official Opening of the Robert the Bruce Heritage Centre is in

Strathleven Artizans are a group of volunteers, passionate about history, who seek to promote the history of Renton village and in particular our most famous resident – King Robert Bruce who was King of Scots from 1306 to 1329. Other than Bannockburn (June 1314) the place most associated with the warrior king was indeed Renton.

In 1325 King Robert broke with all tradition and chose to bring his royal court to the very rural Parish of Cardross. In the vicinity of Renton village he extended a large hunting lodge, turning it into a Royal Manor House.

He did this because in 1324 his son and heir, David II (King of Scots 1329-1371), was born at Dunfermline Abbey. At the time, King Robert and his family were residing at the Palace at Perth. The Palace was very damp and an unsuitable place to bring up a young family.

The King decided to relocate his court to Pillansflait (Gaelic – Tent of the King. Pavilion of the Great Hero) which is now the present Tontine Park at the east end of the village of Renton. The King remained at the Manor House until his death on the 7th June 1329.

Strathleven Artizans have close links with the Bruce family still in residence in Dunfermline. Andrew Bruce, Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, is our patron.

First painting of the Strathleven Artizans

This painting was inspired by an etching by E Harding in 1810. This depicts King Robert the Bruce circa 1310. Our artist John Woodcock shows the life of King Robert the Bruce in Strathleven. John has added Dumbarton Castle which is a place close to his own heart, putting King Robert the Bruce at the village of Renton where the royal manor house stood. The mountain of Ben Lomond can be viewed in the top left background.