Fragments of Stone of Scone tracked down to reveal a hidden history

The Scone Stone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, is a treasured relic of British history that has been used for centuries to accompany the coronation of kings. This 152 kg (335 lb) sandstone block has suffered from a series of thefts and travel, one of which appears to have resulted in the loss of 34 fragments.

Professor Sally Foster from the University of Stirling has spent the last few years tracing these fragments and piecing together the complex history of the Stone and its parts. Recently her work was published V Antiques Magazineand tells a complex story, including myth, national identityAnd political controversy between Scotland and England.

A Weary History

Researchers believe that the Stone was mined near Perth in Scotland, but are not sure of the exact time. Foster says it became the symbolic object we know today sometime in the 13th century, when Scottish rulers began using it in their coronation ceremonies. However, by the end of the 13th century it was taken over by the English king Edward I and used for coronations in Westminster Abbey. In many ways it was seen as a symbol of Scottish enslavement.

Centuries later, on Christmas morning 1950, members of the Scottish Nationalist Party led by Ian Hamilton stole the Stone from Westminster Abbey to return it to Scotland. As the story goes, they end up dropping the Stone and breaking it in two. However, the Stone was ultimately repaired and returned only three months later. According to Foster, a man named Robert (Bertie Gray) played an important role in the events.

“Gray was a monumental sculptor, politician and judge from Glasgow with strong nationalist sentiments, a leading member of the Scottish Covenant Association, which sought some form of self-government for Scotland. His political and practical involvement with the Stone began early, as he made a copy of the Stone in the early 1930s, shortly after co-founding the Scottish National Party in 1928, which later merged to form the SNP in 1934. His idea then was to remove the Stone from Westminster Abbey and replace it with a replica,” Foster explains.

After his return, the Stone continued its role in British coronations, but also returned to Scotland. In 1996, the Stone was exhibited at Edinburgh Castle and later moved to the Perth Museum.

Fragments lost and found

During the infamous theft and renovation of 1950/1951, Bertie Gray is reported to have kept a number of souvenirs in the form of stone fragments and then distributed them to numerous people with certificates of authenticity. Finding out where these fragments ended up, who they belonged to, and how they were handled was a major theme of Foster's work. She conducted thorough archival work, conducted interviews, consulted with curators and experts, and even asked the public about the details of the lost works.

A 1956 newspaper article claimed that 34 pieces were missing from the Stone. Through her research, Foster was able to locate 17 of these fragments. The fate of many fragments was to be captured in decorations. For example, Ian Hamilton's girlfriend was given a brooch containing one such fragment, and Winnie Ewing, a Scottish SNP politician, was photographed wearing a medallion containing a fragment. In an interview, she said she “wants to be arrested for possession of stolen property.”

Other fragments were sent for scientific testing, and at least one fragment ended up in Australia after Gray gave it to an Australian woman visiting Scotland.

“Visiting Scotland from Australia, she met Gray and told him about his renovation of the Stone. After her death in 1967, the family donated the fragment, accompanying letter of confirmation and Gray's calling card to the Queensland Museum,” says Foster.

Trying to solve the puzzle

Foster argues that the existence and stories of these fragments give the Stone new levels of meaning and value. The fragmentation eventually led to more personal connections between different families and the stone's significance to places outside Britain which now have a reason to tell the story of the Scone Stone.

However, 17 pieces remain missing. Foster hopes that more coverage of the story and the search will lead to more details being revealed.

“The text of my original submission prophetically predicted that more fragments would be known before the publication of this article. The welcome public reaction to media interest in January 2025 is eye-opening. They explain why a comprehensive biographical approach to the Stone, its fragments and copies is necessary to fully understand contemporary meanings and significance,” writes Foster.

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