Commercial disgrace in Falkirk!

[McClef]

Having checked in to the B&B in Stirling my friend Andrew and I took the train to Falkirk. Andrew used to live in the area and he took me to the Howgate Shopping Mall to see the stained glass windows which commemorate Charles Edward Stewart and the '45.

"In January 1746, following the Jacobite victory at the Second Battle of Falkirk, part of Bonnie Prince Charlie's army under the command of Lord George Murray entered Falkirk through Bantaskine Port. The Prince spent the night after the Battle in lodgings on the site now occupied by Dixons. The same lodgings were occupied by the Duke of Cumberland shortly afterwards. The Battle is commemorated by the preserved stained glass windows on display in the Howgate Centre. The windows, known as "The Soldiers of Fortune", were originally installed in South Bantaskine House and show the Prince, Lord George and Sir John Drummond. "

I was amazed and somewhat angered to find them being obscured by a display of lingerie clad mannequins, an entirely inappropriate and disrespectful choice, besides the fact they were obscuring a full appreciation of the windows. I think it's disgraceful that such a blatent misuse of the space should be allowed by the management. If that's what they do with what is effectively something of National and historical interest they don't deserve to have them!

Anyway here are the pics:

Lord George Murray



Prince Charles Edward Stewart



What was in front of him



Lord John Drummond and part of what was in front of him



The whole thing - clearly the fencing is supposed to provide some kind of protection, not be an advertising space!



And viewed from above



The Mall has a website but no email address, very convenient!

http://www.themall.co.uk/about/conta...x?mall=Howgate

I intend to ring them and ask if they have one!

[McMurdo]

Beautiful stained glass, shame about the placement of the lingere, an entirely inappropriate and disrespectful choice is quite right, too bad. The windows really should be preserved somewhere other than a mall.

[cavscout]

What is on the Left leg of Prince Charles Edward Stewart? He does not appear to be wearing hose but there is a "band" of some sort?

[pdcorlis]

Wow - that's wonderful stained glass! It sure looks like the mall window dressing team sure has a tin ear for history - shameful.

[MacSimoin]

Hmm...I wonder why the lingerie display was placed in this location (or maybe I'm just grasping at straws). Regardless, I agree these beautful windows need to be moved from the building and preserved elsewhere.

[McClef]

What is on the Left leg of Prince Charles Edward Stewart? He does not appear to be wearing hose but there is a "band" of some sort?

I would say it was a garter which is an order of chivalry. He could possibly have been wearing some kind of flesh coloured stocking as his legs don't look hairy!

I found a contact form for the Mall at http://www.themall.co.uk/about/custo...x?mall=Howgate and sent the following comment:

"I was disgusted to see the South Bankastine windows being used to display ladies lingerie last Thursday. Is this any way to treat something of national and historical significance? Not only was the display totally disrespectful and inappropriate but it obscured the view. Is this common practice? If the windows can be treated so casually the Mall doesn't deserve to have them. I would appreciate an explanation thank you."

I will report their reply when I receive it. Anyone else who would like to add their views using the form? Let's kick some butt! :buttkick:

[mbhandy]

I believe he was order of the garter?

MrBill

PS edited: You beat me to it.

[cavscout]

Something new everyday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter

Thanks

[Pour1Malt]

weel...

it's a mall...

ya expected maire?

[MacSimoin]

weel...

it's a mall...

ya expected maire?

Yes...and I think that was McClef's point.