Scotland's Statues Trivia Quiz

Answer: Edinburgh

The statue of Greyfriars Bobby stands near the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh's Old Town. Legend has it that Bobby was a Skye Terrier who spent 14 years guarding his master, John Grey's, grave after Grey died in 1858. The story captured Victorian hearts and the statue was commissioned by Baroness Burdett-Coutts in 1873, a year after Bobby died.

Some historians debate the accuracy of the tale, but the statue remains one of Edinburgh's most visited landmarks. People rub Bobby's nose for good luck, which explains why it's noticeably shinier than the rest of the bronze statue.

Answer: Duke of Wellington

The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington outside Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art has become an unofficial symbol of the city, thanks to locals repeatedly placing a traffic cone on his head. Despite Glasgow City Council's attempts to remove it and even raise the plinth to deter cone-placers, Glaswegians continued to persist.

The cone became so famous that when the council proposed spending £10,000 on anti-cone measures in 2013, public outcry forced them to abandon the plan. The statue was created by Italian sculptor Carlo Marochetti in 1844, but it's the cone that made it so famous.

Answer: James Watt

James Watt's statue in Glasgow's George Square was sculpted by Francis Leggatt Chantrey and erected in 1832. Watt's improvements to the steam engine in the late 18th century helped drive the Industrial Revolution. Born in Greenock in 1736, Watt worked as an instrument maker at the University of Glasgow when he was asked to repair a model Newcomen steam engine.

His modifications, including the separate condenser, made steam engines much more efficient for industrial use. The unit of power, the watt, is named in his honour. George Square contains statues of several prominent Scots, and Watt's position reflects the city's industrial heritage.

Answer: Sir Walter Scott Monument

The Scott Monument on Edinburgh's Princes Street is the largest monument to a writer anywhere in the world. It was designed by George Meikle Kemp and completed in 1844. The Gothic Revival structure stands 61 metres tall and contains a seated statue of Scott by Sir John Steell. Visitors can climb the 287 steps inside the monument for panoramic views of Edinburgh. Scott was Scotland's most famous author during his lifetime, writing works like 'Ivanhoe', 'Rob Roy' and 'Waverley'.

The monument has 64 carved figures from Scott's novels in niches on the exterior. Architect Kemp drowned in the Union Canal before the monument's completion.

Answer: Poland

The statue of Wojtek in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens commemorates a remarkable story from World War II. Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear adopted as a cub by Polish soldiers in Iran in 1942. The bear became an official soldier in the Polish II Corps, complete with rank, serial number, and paybook. During the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, Wojtek helped carry ammunition crates to the artillery positions, never dropping a single one.

After the war, many Polish soldiers settled in Scotland, and Wojtek lived out his retirement at Edinburgh Zoo until he died in 1963. The bronze statue was unveiled in 2015 and sculpted by Alan Beattie Herriot. It shows Wojtek walking alongside a standing Polish soldier. A relief on the low stone wall behind depicts Wojtek carrying an artillery shell, the emblem of his military unit.

Answer: Bannockburn

The equestrian statue of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn was created by Charles d'Orville Pilkington Jackson. It was unveiled in 1964 to mark the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. Bruce's victory over Edward II's English forces in 1314 secured Scottish independence and is one of the most famous moments in Scottish history. The statue shows him mounted on horseback, axe in hand, positioned near the spot where he commanded his forces.

The Bannockburn Heritage Centre nearby tells the story of the battle and Bruce's campaign. He was crowned King of Scots in 1306 and spent years fighting guerrilla warfare before his decisive victory. He's remembered as both a warrior king and the monarch who secured Scotland's status as an independent nation.

Answer: Hamish McHamish

Hamish McHamish was a ginger and white cat who became a beloved fixture of St Andrews from 1999 until he died in 2014. Unlike most cats, Hamish belonged to no one household but roamed the town freely, visiting shops, the university, and various homes where he was always welcome. His independent spirit and friendly nature made him a local celebrity, inspiring books, a Facebook page with thousands of followers and eventually a bronze statue.

The statue by sculptor David Annand was unveiled in 2014, just months before Hamish's death. Located in Logies Lane, it shows Hamish standing upright on all four paws, mid-stride. Hamish proved that in St Andrews, you don't need to be royal, ancient, or heroic to earn a statue. Just be a really good cat.

Answer: Falkirk

The Kelpies in Falkirk are the largest equine sculptures in the world, standing 30 metres tall. They were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and completed in 2013. The two horse-head sculptures weigh 300 tonnes each and are made from structural steel with a stainless steel cladding. They represent the shape-shifting water spirits of Celtic mythology. Kelpies were said to haunt Scotland's lochs and rivers.

The sculptures also celebrate Scotland's industrial heritage, particularly the working horses that pulled barges along the Forth and Clyde Canal. They've become a major tourist attraction and a symbol of modern Scotland. At night, they're illuminated by a spectacular lighting system that changes colours, visible for miles around.

Answer: Africa

David Livingstone was born in Blantyre in 1813. He became one of the most famous explorers of the 19th century. As a medical missionary, he spent over 30 years exploring Africa, mapping vast territories previously unknown to Europeans and campaigning against the slave trade. His most famous moment was when journalist Henry Morton Stanley found him in 1871 and allegedly greeted him with 'Dr. Livingstone, I presume?'

Livingstone died in present-day Zambia in 1873. His body was returned to Britain and buried in Westminster Abbey, but his heart was buried in Africa at his request. Statues of Livingstone can be found in Scotland, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre tells his story and explores his life and legacy in Africa.

Answer: Over 50

Robert Burns is commemorated by more statues worldwide than any other non-royal Scot. There are over 50 Burns statues globally, from Dumfries and Edinburgh to New York, Melbourne, and Dunedin. This reflects both Burns's literary genius and the global spread of Scottish emigration. Wherever Scots settled, they built Burns clubs and erected statues. The poet died in 1796 at just 37, but his works like 'Auld Lang Syne' and 'Tam o' Shanter' made him famous worldwide.

Burns Night on January 25th is celebrated worldwide with Burns Suppers featuring haggis, whisky, and recitations of his poetry. The first public statue of Burns was a marble monument by John Flaxman. It was completed in 1830 for the Burns Monument in Edinburgh. The earliest outdoor bronze statue was unveiled in Dumfries in 1882. Some statues show him thoughtful and scholarly; others capture his reputation as a man of the people and a lover of life's pleasures.