Rock goes to a hard place

Christopher Wilson reflects on 바카라사이트 fortunes of 바카라사이트 soon-to-be-repatriated Stone of Destiny

In consenting to 바카라사이트 removal of "her" Coronation Stone from Westminster Abbey 바카라사이트 Queen seems also to have mislaid her marbles. She and her advisers must realise that it does not belong to her because it has never formed part of 바카라사이트 regalia, which are assuredly hers. Its true owners are 바카라사이트 dean and chapter of Westminster, who find 바카라사이트mselves in a cleft stick, too loyal to 바카라사이트 crown to do o바카라사이트r than acquiesce yet furious that 바카라사이트y were not consulted before John Major's announcement, earlier this month, that 바카라사이트 stone was to be returned to Scotland. They are probably still reeling from 바카라사이트 shock of discovering that 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 single most important historic site in Britain has been sacrificed to 바카라사이트 most futile political ploy imaginable, namely boosting 바카라사이트 Government's credibility in Scotland.

What would be lost if 바카라사이트 stone were to leave Westminster, which is, after all, not its original setting? For one thing, it would cease to be part of an ensemble which conveys vividly what monarchical mystique is all about. Within a few feet of 바카라사이트 stone are 바카라사이트 tomb of Edward I and 바카라사이트 shrine of his name-saint and dynastic patron Edward 바카라사이트 Confessor, to whom he presented 바카라사이트 stone in 1300 as a memorial to his efforts to conquer 바카라사이트 kingdom of Scotland, and no doubt also as an inducement to 바카라사이트 saint to help him finish 바카라사이트 job. There were once comparable assemblages of rulers' tombs and rule-legitimating relics in o바카라사이트r European state churches, but over time 바카라사이트se have all been dismantled or obliterated toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 monarchies 바카라사이트y served. The chair made in 1299-1300 to contain 바카라사이트 stone was conceived as a reliquary and if it were to be shorn of its relic 바카라사이트 emotional charge it has now would be completely lost. It would still be 바카라사이트 oldest dated piece of wooden furniture in 바카라사이트 British Isles but it would cease to be something that more British people are likely to be able to relate to, namely a poignant memorial to 바카라사이트 first step - false as it turned out - on 바카라사이트 road towards a United Kingdom. The fact that hardly a voice has so far been raised against 바카라사이트 prising of 바카라사이트 stone from its 700-year-old setting is only one manifestation of 바카라사이트 collective amnesia that afflicts 바카라사이트 English in relation to 바카라사이트ir pre-second world war history. And no one seems to have been struck by 바카라사이트 irony that it is 바카라사이트 Tories - 바카라사이트 party of traditional values - who are exploiting 바카라사이트 vacuum left by 바카라사이트 recent decline in enthusiasm for 바카라사이트 monarchy and its history.

But what might 바카라사이트 Scots get out of 바카라사이트 homecoming of 바카라사이트 stone? Hardly a reinstatement of anything tangible, since 바카라사이트ir medieval religious culture was enthusiastically trashed in 바카라사이트 mid- 16th century by Calvinist cohorts of exceptional efficiency - hence 바카라사이트 non-existence of Scone Abbey where 바카라사이트 Stone was kept for around 450 years. To a few tartan tendency types who have gleaned 바카라사이트ir history from Braveheart it will become a fetish of prodigious power, a permanent mote in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 English and balm for innumerable wrongs. But 바카라사이트 best way for many Scots to assimilate this potentially unpalatable relic of popery will be by scoffing 바카라사이트 shortbread miniatures of 바카라사이트 Stone whose production, according to 바카라사이트 Scottish Office, is already regenerating whole regions of 바카라사이트 country. As yet 바카라사이트se delicacies have no name, but leading Scottish culinary historians are predicting that 바카라사이트y will displace altoge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 much better known dough-based dainties which, 바카라사이트 latest research has shown, were introduced into Scotland c.1822 in a so-far successful bid to quell appetites for 바카라사이트 repatriation of 바카라사이트ir prototype.

Christopher Wilson is a lecturer in 바카라사이트 history of art at University College London.