PICTURES: New sculpture commemorates Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

The monument, showing two soldiers in combat, was designed by local sculptor Gardner Molloy, who was commissioned to undertake the project by Taylor Wimpey, which has built new homes at its Almond Park development in Pinkie.

The sandstone sculpture, situated in park land off Battlefield Drive, was unveiled by Kirsty McGill, the company’s East of Scotland sales and marketing director, last Friday.

Earlier that day, she was a guest at the Old Musselburgh Club’s annual commemoration ceremony at the battle’s memorial stone near Wallyford. In turn, club members attended the unveiling of the sculpture, along with Pipe Major Colin Pryde who played musical tributes to mark the event.

The sculpture to mark the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was unveiled in a new housing development in the Pinkie area of Musselburgh. Photo: Angus Bathgate.

Mr Molloy said of his design: “Set on a lettered Caithness flagstone base, the two soldiers square up to each other, size up their enemy and prepare to fight.

“The English soldier is carved from pink Doddington sandstone from near Wooler and the Scottish soldier from Witton Fell sandstone from North Yorkshire, chosen to create contrast.

“The blocks were originally more than 10 tonnes in weight, took about eight weeks each to carve and now weigh just over three tonnes.”

Mrs McGill added: “We are very proud of the sculptures that Gardner Molloy has created for this development, the recognition they will receive in the wider local community, as well as the contribution they will make to understanding and appreciating Scotland’s rich local history.”

Kirsty McGill, from Taylor Wimpey, officially unveiled the statue. Photo: Angus Bathgate.

The Old Musselburgh Club’s commemoration of the 474th anniversary of the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh began with a walk along the battlefield trail led by Dr Andrew Coulson and Roger Knox, from the Pinkie Cleugh Battlefield & Tapestry Group.

The last pitched battle between Scotland and England, fought on September 10, 1547, it took place during the Rough Wooing, when the armies of Scotland and England fought to determine who should marry the infant Mary, Queen of Scots.

The larger Scottish army attacked across the River Esk into the teeth of ferocious cavalry charges and a hail of arrows, cannon and gunshot.

There were 10,000 Scottish troops massacred in the rout, which became known as ‘Black Saturday’.

Left to right - Ian Wood, of the Old Musselburgh Club, Ian Irving, who is writing a book on the battle, Alister Hadden, and Jim Strachan, of the Old Musselburgh Club, sculptor Gardner Malloy, Kirsty McGill, from Taylor Wimpey, and Provost John McMillan.

But the immediate effect was to revive the ‘Auld Alliance’ between Scotland and France – and to bring about the betrothal of the five-year-old Mary to the Dauphin of France.

The battle is significant in military history due to the pioneering combination of horse, foot and artillery with supporting fire from naval vessels.

The walkers followed the battle’s information boards, starting at the Roman Bridge in Musselburgh, then on to St Michael’s Church at Inveresk, Crookston Road, ending at the memorial stone just off Salters Road, Wallyford, in time for the commemoration.

Jim Strachan, an Old Musselburgh Club council member, opened the event, saying: “We are all products of our past history and, as such, it is incumbent on us to learn, remember and pass on that memory to following generations.”

Alister Hadden, the commemoration’s convener, gave an account of the battle which was taken from a book by William Patton, a young lawyer who was an eyewitness, and also research by Dr Coulson. Ian Wood, club treasurer, then read out the names of 12 Scots who lost their lives in the conflict. This was followed by an act of remembrance and a minute’s silence.

The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh memorial stone near Wallyford: Photo: Angus Bathgate

Floral tributes were laid at the memorial stone by Molly Gray on behalf of the Old Musselburgh Club; Dr Arran Johnston, chairman of the Scottish Battlefields Trust; Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian; and Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh.

Mr Hadden thanked those who led the commemoration and also: Robert Reid Travel for help with the transport of the flag pole and Saltire; East Lothian Council’s connected communities manager Stuart Baxter and the council’s amenities services for planting a wildflower bed near the western entrance to Wallyford; and the community payback team for mowing the grass at the memorial stone.

Mr McMillan thanked the Old Musselburgh Club for continuing to commemorate the battle.