An ancient letter written by Robert the Bruce could soon be on display to the public.
A crowdfunder has been launched by the National Trust for Scotland to highlight one of the country’s oldest surviving documents – a letter at Brodie Castle in Moray, which was written in 1312 by the King of Scots.
Written in Latin on Vellum paper, the letter predates the oldest parts of Brodie Castle by about 200 years and is significant due to its antiquity and the prominence of its origin.
The document is made even more special as it was one of the few family papers that survived a fire in 1645.
The translation of the letter reveals that Robert the Bruce demanded that the Thane of Brodie take proper care of his mill pond, as the neglect of it had annoyed the local monks of Pluscarden Abbey, near Elgin.
The aim of the crowdfunding campaign is to raise £24,000 to put the letter back on display and protect it in a state-of-the-art cabinet.
The latter amenity will also contain interactive audio and video elements and be capable of translating the document into different languages.
Despite being cared for by the NTS, the letter was removed from display at the property earlier this year, after it started to fade due to environmental factors, particularly light and humidity.
If the crowdfunding target is reached, the letter will go back on display without further harm from temperature, humidity and light conditions.
James Dean, operations manager at Brodie Castle, said: “Few documents from this time survive intact and are still legible, so we are very fortunate and honoured to care for this special piece of our past, especially as it was written by such an important figure in Scotland’s history.
“By reaching our target for this appeal we’ll be able to protect the letter and present it in a way that means more people will be able to appreciate it for years to come – and there’s no better day to call on people for their support for this campaign than on Scotland’s national day.
“The cutting-edge technology of the cabinet makes the letter more accessible and interactive, showing illustrations, photography and videos to visitors. It will also translate the letter into multiple language and explain its historical context.”
To donate go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/robert-the-bruce.
