History
Drymen
The 3rd Marquise of Montrose bought Buchanan House and estate in 1681/2 following a fire at their residence at Mugdock Castle. The Montrose family relocated their seat to Drymen with the move. A new military road, which passed Drymen, was constructed from Dumbarton to Stirling following the Jacobite rebellion of 1745/6. This would have increased the accessibility of Drymen and increased its importance. The buildings that are now Loaninghead Farm was a hunting lodge at this time.
Rob Roy McGregor (1671 - 1734)
Originally a cattle dealer, Rob Roy started to steal cattle to pay off debts to James Graham who was the 1st Duke of Montrose. His debts are said to be as high as �1,000 sterling. The Duke coerced the Scottish courts to pass land owned by the McGregor clan to the Montrose family in lue of these debts. Rob Roy battled with the Duke, and the courts, until 1722 when forced to surrender. He was imprisoned, accused of fraud and declared an outlaw. After being pardoned in 1727, he died at Inverlochlarig Beg on 28 December 1734. The story of Rob Roy was the inspiration of a book by Sir Walter Scott and adaptations have also been shown in film.
The William Wallace monument
Sir William Wallace (c. 1270 - 1305)
Scottish forces, led by Andrew Moray, routed an English army on 11 September 1297 at the Battle of Stirling Bridge with William Wallace as captain. On his return, Wallace was knighted and made Guardian of Scotland and Leader of its armies.
On 1 April 1298 the tables were turned when the English won the Battle of Falkirk. Wallace escaped but his reputation and pride were hurt. By September of the same year Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland and managed to evade capture until 5 August 1305 when he was betrayed by Sir John de Menteith. He was tried for treason in Westminster Hall. After being found guilty on 23 August, Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered in Smithfield Market. His head was displayed on top of a pike at London Bridge and his limbs shown separately in Newcastle, Perth, Stirling and Berwick. A plaque at the site of Sir William Wallace's execution can be found at St. Bartholomew's Hospital at Smithfield, London.