The clandestine Stone of Destiny theft from Westminster Abbey is the tale that keeps giving
It is remarkable that 75 years after one of Scotland’s greatest artefacts was ‘stolen’ back for the nation, we are still finding out new details about the daring escapade.
Readers of The Scotsman will be well versed in the famous removal of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey in 1950 by a group of nationalist students, determined to bring the treasure home.
The stone was dropped during its clandestine removal and split in two along an historic crack.
What was largely unknown until now was that a police inspector involved in the search for the ‘Stone of Scone’ – once used to crown Robert the Bruce –ended up receiving a “hidden” piece of the artefact.
New research has found Detective Inspector William Kerr accepted a small piece of the stone as a gift, following its repair.
Stirling University’s Professor Sally Foster believes there are likely even more fragments in private collections, as well as an unknown quantity of unnumbered pieces.
It may be time to check the loft or a hidden cupboard at home – who knows what you may find.
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