Stump of tree that Braveheart William Wallace was tied to found at Lidl branch

A tree that Scotland’s Braveheart freedom fighter William Wallace is said to have been chained to by English soldiers has been found behind a Lidl store.

For nearly a year, experts have been examining two chunks of oak in order to find out if they really came from the same tree named in a local legend.

The chunks were found at the site of the former Gourock Ropeworks, Inverclyde, and from a tree thought to have stood in the grounds of the Holy Family Church.

According to local legend, Wallace was chained to the tree in 1305 after his capture by the English before being transferred to London, where he was hanged, drawn and quartered.

The segments of tree were examined by tree specialist Dr Coralie Mills - one of just three -read more