The head of an Aberdeen organisation that dates back almost 900 years has called for a permanent feature to honour the historic connections between the Granite City and Robert the Bruce.
Colin Taylor, Lord Dean of Guild of the City and Royal Burgh of Aberdeen – more commonly known as the Aberdeen Burgesses – said the new commemoration should be prepared for 2019 to mark the 700th anniversary of the famous King of Scots granting the city’s great charter.
The latter led to the creation of the city’s common good fund which is still in use today.
The group is made up of more than 1,000 city men and women who are nominated by other members and was first mentioned in writings from 1124.
In a report to the council’s guildry and mortifications funds sub-committee, which meets today, Mr Taylor wrote: “I remain enthusiastic about the suggestion of a permanent feature to recognise the burgesses of our city.
“As reported earlier, this could perhaps be an ornament or plaque in the form of an interpretive panel made of granite in the area of the Robert The Bruce statue at Marischal College.
“The purpose would be to explain the significance of this statue and the connection between Bruce and the city of Aberdeen and also the burgesses of the City.
“I think now that this project should be planned for 2019 when the burgesses, together with fellow citizens, will undoubtedly wish to celebrate the granting of the freedom lands by King Robert the Bruce to the burgesses.”
Along with the Great Charter, Bruce gave Aberdeen the Forest of Stocket (now the Midstocket area of the city), in return for an annual rent.
As a consequence of the finances generated from the forest, the common good fund was created to benefit the people of the city.
That fund helped to create Marischal College, help city residents during the 1640 plague and buy Hazlehead park.
A towering 19ft memorial to Bruce was erected outside the council’s Marischal College headquarters in 2011.
Barney Crockett, a member of the city’s heritage trust and also a Burgess himself, said: “I think we should always look to celebrate our history and our heritage.
“I think there are more very old organisations, like the Burgesses, than anywhere else and I think that underlines the heritage of the city.”
