We will be researching the
Battle of Stirling Bridge.
YOU MAY TAKE
OUR
LIVES….BUT
YOU WILL
NEVER TAKE
OUR
FREEDOM
Mrs Templeton CDHS
The Battle of Stirling Bridge
11th September, 1297
Heading
Why did Wallace and Murray
win the Battle of Stirling Bridge
in 1297?
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Learning Intentions
• To explain why Wallace and Murray won the Battle of
Stirling Bridge
Success Criteria
• Select relevant information
• Answer in sentences
• Reach a conclusion using evidence from a variety of
sources
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Background
• By August 1297, Andrew Moray/Murray had control of
the North
•Wallace had driven English out of Fife and Perthshire
• Wallace and Moray’s armies joined
• 22 Aug - Edward departed for
France
• English army marched to Stirling
– led by the Earl of Warenne, John
Surrey, – old soldier, tremendous
power
– Sir Hugh Cressingham nicknamed
the ‘treacherer’ (treasurer)
Importance of Stirling
• Powerful castle
• Key to control Scotland
• Access to north
Stirling
Scottish Army
English Army
Starting
position
Wallace and Moray placed their army South side of the River Forth.
between the River Forth and the Ochil
Hills facing the Stirling Bridge
Their army took up the high ground
known as Abbey Craig.
Leaders
Wallace and Moray. This was
Wallace’s first experience of a
standing battle He had always used
guerrilla tactics before.
Hugh de Cressingham (English Governor
of Scotland) and Earl of Surrey. Both
had experience in leading troops into
battle.
Ambitions
Scotland to be free from English
control. Return of King John Balliol.
To regain control of Scotland
Armies
Smaller force The army was mainly
from the ‘lesser’ ranks in society.
They were inexperienced and not well
trained.
Huge army The army was well trained,
organised and experienced.
Weapons
Men made most of their weapons
themselves. They had 12 feet long
spears, axes and knives.
Wore rough hide tunics of homespun
cloth. Few men had helmets or any
form of body armour.
The army was well equipped. They had
skilled well trained longbowmen
Uniforms
Wore protective clothing. Knights wore
armour.
The ford is the
easiest and
shallowest place
to cross the river.
Wallace puts
his troops on
Abbey Craig
near the Ford.
Warenne delays
crossing for
several days to
allow negotiations.
Sure Scots will
choose peace.
Surprised Scots
do not surrender.
Decides to cross
on 11 Sept 1297.
Stirling Bridge is
narrow and made from
wood. This is where the
English chose to cross.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
The English were
overconfident with
their forces- they
thought they
would win easy!
6am – English and
Welsh start to cross
but are recalled as
Warenne overslept.
YELL OF
ATTACK
from
Wallace at
the right
Wallace time!
-Cross again and are
Victory for
recalled as Warenne
thinks Scots will 1. Over 100 Knights and 5,000
negotiate.
infantry are massacred –
Wooden
Bridge
-Warenne wantsincluding
to
High
De collapses
Cressingham
as
the
English
try
to retreat
sent cavalry
the tax collector
upstream for support in a state of confusion!
but Cressingham
says this is too 2. Causes collapse of English
expensive. Insistoccupation.
they
Wallace devastates
cross at once 2 at a
north of England. 715 villages
time
burnt. Brutality.
-More than half the
English cross the
bridge.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
1. 1st Battle in Europe when a
common army of spearmen
had defeated knights.
2. Destroyed myth that English
were invincible.
3. The Scots had not defeated
Wooden Bridge collapses
an English army
since
thetry to retreat
as the
English
dark ages.
in a state of confusion!
4. Strengthened will to resist.
5. Humiliation strengthened
Edwards determination to
crush the Scots.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
English were over confident
Good Scottish positioning
Cressingham’s poor tactics
Scottish Schiltrons
Bridge collapses
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Few Scottish casualties
English were over confident
The English were over confident. Over 10 000
English troops including cavalry and archers
faced 5 000 Scottish troops, mostly on foot.
Contemporary Chronicals reveal that the
English were ‘cock sure’…..They were
surprised when the Scots would not
surrender.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Good Scottish positioning
Wallace had organised his men onto a rocky hill
called Abbey Craig which guarded a ford where
the English could have crossed the river. With
the Scots stationed here the English had to
think of another way of getting across the
river.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Cressingham’s poor tactics
Did not cross at Ford
Chose the ;’easiest’ and laziest option of
crossing the river over the bridge
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Scottish Schiltrons
Wallace and Murray’s use of Schiltrons to
attack English.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Bridge collapses
Collapse of the wooden Bridge. Once 500 English
troops had stated to cross the bridge Wallace
yelled ATTACK!. The Wooden Bridge carrying
the English troops collapsed. The English, in a
state of confusion, tried to go back across the
bridge. The bridge fell beneath them and many
soldiers drowned in the River Forth. Many troops
got trapped in the marshy muddy ground below
the bridge and so were an easy target for the
pursuing Scots.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Few Scottish casualties
Even though they were outnumbered the
Scots had killed more English soldiers. They
also captured and beheaded Cressingham.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Why did Wallace win?
E- English were over confident
A- Abbey Craig
S- Stirling Bridge
Y- ell of attack from Wallace
W- Wooden Bridge collapses
I- Increasing numbers of English killed
N- Not many Scottish casualties= victory
Battle of Stirling Bridge Souvenirs
The English treasurer Cressingham, who was quite large man,
was beheaded. According to further reports Wallace and his
men decided to make good use of his big fleshy body. They
made belts and boots and saddles. Nice.
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Which
reason is
the most
important?
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Mrs Templeton CDHS
Why was the Battle of
Stirling Bridge important?
Mrs Templeton CDHS