A mural, depicting Sir William Wallace, has been moved to a new location for safe keeping in Wallaceburg.
Susan Londry, the president of the Wallaceburg Rotary Club and the owner of Precious Products at 547 Wallace Street, told the Sydenham Current the large mural has been dismantled and has been handed over to the Wallaceburg and District Museum.
“The Museum is storing it until they can find an appropriate place in Wallaceburg for it,” Londry said.
“There is also along with it a mural of ‘The Black Goose’ that was going on the other side of the building, but we couldn’t get it done. So they are storing it as well.”
Londry said her and her husband’s building has been sold, which is what prompted the need to move the mural.
“I approached the Museum to take care of it and the new owners (of the building) agreed,” she said.
The mural was created by local artists Cindy Baxter and Wes Siddall, in sponsorship with the Trillium Foundation, the Wallaceburg Rotary Club and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
It was officially unveiled on September 25, 2005 and was created in honour of the 700th anniversary of the death of Sir William Wallace.
The Town of Wallaceburg was named after Wallace by High MacCallum, the first postmaster in Wallaceburg, in 1837.
The mural itself depicts some differences between the English and the Scottish at the time.
“On the left side of the mural you see the lavish English castle with the army below led by Edward I (Longshanks),” reads a description on the mural.
“On the right is a more modest Scottish castle and the resistence attired in simpler clothing with little weaponry and protection. Regardless of the modest resources of the Scots led by Wallace in the foreground they had their greatest victory against the English at Stirling Bridge.”
The description on the mural continues: “Since tartans weren’t in existence yet, the plaid ribbon forming the bottom represents the natural colours that may have been worn by Wallace and other Scots. Their fabrics were dyed from herbs and substances found in nature. The Scottish thistle is a reminder of the simple beauty of Scotland.”
Londry said the secondhand store business she runs out of the building is set to close at the end of October.
She said any of the items that are not sold before they close, will be donated.
