File:Bruce's Flagstaff - geograph.org.uk - 1096046.jpg

English: Bruce's Flagstaff. This flagstaff, at Castlehill, was erected in 1928 to honour King Robert the Bruce. At that time, the name Castlehill, and the presence of a mound that appears to have been a fortification, suggested that this was the probable location of the manor house at which the king spent much time in his later years.

Although current thinking would place Bruce's manor house elsewhere (as discussed at length here: 914740), the flagstaff remains a fitting symbol of Robert's historical associations with the Dunbartonshire area.

The photograph was taken from Glencairn Road. The road running from left to right across the image is Cardross Road; behind the flagpole, Castlehill Road leads uphill.

Dumbarton Library holds a copy of the book "Bruce's Castle at Dumbarton by Peter Thomson with Proceedings at the Bruce's flagstaff on 23rd June, 1928". The author, Peter Thomson, J.P., who was the convener of the Dumbarton Patriotic Association, may be the same Peter Thomson who was convener of Dumbarton Library from 1913 to 1937. The first half of his work, which is not dated, but which was clearly written in 1928, or not long afterwards, is a discussion of Bruce's "Castle" or Manor House (which was mentioned above).

The second half of the book describes proceedings at the flagstaff, and reproduces articles from the June 1928 issues of the Dumbarton Herald (a local newspaper which was published between 1851 and 1933). These articles provide more information about the flagstaff, such as its being raised by the Dumbarton Patriotic Society, and the inaugural unfurling of the Scottish Standard upon it by Provost Garrick on the afternoon of Saturday the 23rd of June, 1928. That date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn; there had been earlier plans to erect a flagstaff at this site, but these were interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War.

The same work provides further details about the flagstaff:

"The staff itself is butted on Dalreoch sandstone and rises 62 feet. It is spliced above the centre, the lower half being metal and the upper half wood. The double straining is by wire rope ingeniously arranged. At the vane there is the customary direction finder, and an appropriate weather 'cock' suggested by Mr Thomson himself. The swing piece takes the form of the battle axe Bruce wielded with such dexterity on the field of Bannockburn, and surmounting the whole there is the royal crown. Scottish flag had reason certainly to fly proudly on Scottish pole. The flagstaff was built in the yard of Messrs A McMillan and Son, Ltd., Dumbarton ...."

The battle axe and crown mentioned in that description are shown in close-up here: 1096057. (Compare the flagstaff at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, which likewise commemorates Robert the Bruce, and is also surmounted by a battle axe: 461779.)

The work concludes by noting that a brass tablet on the flagstaff bears the following inscription:

"Erected by Dumbarton Patriotic Association in commemoration of King Robert the Bruce who resided at Castlehill adjoining and died there on 7th June, 1329. ――――――――――――――――――

23rd June 1928."