Action at Earnside

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The action at Earnside was a skirmish which took place in the Wars of Scottish Independence in September 1304. Not much is known about it, but it is significant as the last action known to be fought by William Wallace.[1]

Even its location is uncertain. Contemporary records describe it as taking place at "Yrenside". This is usually interpreted to mean "Earnside", i.e. somewhere on the banks of the

Sidlaw Hills
.

There is mention in English records of compensation being paid for a horse lost in a flight from William Wallace below "Yrenside".[2] There is also mention of the Constable of Dundee pursuing Wallace.[3]

Plaque commemorating 'Black Earnside' near Newburgh, Fife, 27 July 2013

To complicate matters further, there is a plaque at NO 26298 19407 in

Battle of Falkirk the following month, and the Earldom of Pembroke was vacant at that time. The name "Black Earnside" is not mentioned on the Ordnance Survey maps of the area and the site is not in any case in Earnside, the River Earn having flowed into the River Tay some 4+12 miles (7 km) upstream of the site. The National Record of the Historic Environment (Canmore) states "There is no good historical evidence for this battle".[4]

References

  1. ^ Barrow Robert the Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland
  2. ^ Calendar of Documents
  3. ^ Cowan The Wallace Book page 40
  4. ^ Site of the Battle of Earnside, https://canmore.org.uk/event/684913