Kings Park Military Connections

After 1603, Stirling continued to have royal connections and remained an important military garrison town. The terrain and location close to the castle made the park an ideal site for military camps and exercises over many centuries.

Despite the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Britain by the Act of Settlement in 1701 and the Treaty of Union in 1707 establishing a British constitution, many people remained concerned that their Scottish identity was being lost. This period was also marked by religious divisions and pockets of political unrest.

In 1715, a rebellion took place in Scotland with the aim of restoring the Stewart monarchy. Two Scots with strong Stirling connections became involved in this conflict, leading opposing forces into combat at the Battle of Sheriffmuir on 13th November 1715. This battle took place near Stirling. Government forces, said to number 3,300 troops, were commanded by John, Second Duke of Argyll, an experienced army general. The much larger Jacobite force, of approximately 8,800, many of them highland clansmen, was commanded by John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar. Prior to engagement in this battle, the Duke of Argyll's army — including dragoons, mounted soldiers and assorted camp followers — is said to have camped in the Kings Park. The local Stirling population must have found this vast influx of troops quite difficult to deal with, as it was winter and many of the soldiers appear to have sought warmer lodgings in the town.

The watercolour painting shows the 98th Regiment of the Argyll Highlanders (later renamed the 91st Regiment) being inspected below Stirling Castle in May 1794. Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, who raised the Regiment, described the men in a letter to the Duke of Argyll in 1794 as behaving with "most orderly manners in town". In the field, he described the soldiers' appearance as passing "his most sanguine expectations."

On 4th August 1914, headlines appeared in the Stirling Observer highlighting the need to mobilise the troops for the Great War. In October that year there was considerable excitement locally when 4,000 troops, including army reservists and territorials, arrived in Stirling. A temporary training camp was set up in Kings Park. One military objective in setting up such camps was to "instill discipline and training" among recruits. Two City of Glasgow Argyll Brigades were among the troops arriving in Kings Park in October 1914. A dry canteen tent was set up, then a "fine" wooden building erected, to provide eating and social facilities. Local people were asked to provide some food for the men and help with musical entertainment.

Temporary stables were also constructed for the large number of horses used for artillery purposes, also located in the Park. The presence of these troops created some difficulties for both soldiers and golfers; the latter now limiting themselves to an occasional round of golf, and the troops risking being hit by "novices'" stray golf balls.

Signs of the various training trenches, which were dug by the Army during this period to prepare soldiers for trench warfare, are still visible in parts of the park. A miniature rifle range was also located in the north-western area of the park for shooting practice.

Kings Park continues to be used for annual military events, such as a Veterans' Day Parade which was held in Kings Park on 22nd July 2008.