ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 16, 1996 TAG: 9611180037
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: COLDSTREAM, SCOTLAND
SOURCE: Associated Press
SCOTLAND'S ANCIENT KINGS were crowned on the stone for centuries, until Edward I of England stole it in 1296. - A rough-hewn block of gray sandstone, sacred to Scots as a symbol of sovereignty, was returned Friday after 700 years in England and an hour's delay for a bomb scare.
The Stone of Scone was removed from beneath the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey in London and driven north to Scotland.
After conservationists in Edinburgh examine it, the stone will be placed on public view in Edinburgh Castle on Nov. 30, the feast day of Scotland's patron saint, St. Andrew.
The stone slab, weighing 458 pounds, was quarried in Scotland, but it is not known where or when.
The Stone of Scone (pronounced ``skoon'') is the stuff of myths, including one that holds that it was used as a pillow by Jacob when he had his ladder dream, as told in Genesis.
Jacob's sons supposedly carried the stone to Egypt. From there, it was said to have been taken to Spain and then to Ireland, where it was placed on the sacred hill at Tara.
When Irish kings were seated on it at coronations, it was supposed to groan aloud if the claimant was royal but remain silent if he was a pretender.
Scotland's ancient kings were crowned on the stone at Scone for centuries, until Edward I of England stole it in 1296.
In 1950, the stone was stolen from Westminster Abbey by four young Scottish nationalists, but was returned to the abbey in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
About 500 people in the Scottish border town of Coldstream turned out Friday to celebrate the stone's return.
That return was delayed an extra hour, after a bomb scare was sparked by a shoe box discovered on the bridge at the border. Army demolition experts were called in. It was empty.
Michael Forsyth, the Cabinet official responsible for Scotland, crossed from the Scottish side to officially receive the stone. It was escorted to Scotland by members of the Coldstream Guards, who handed over the stone at the bridge to the King's Own Scottish Borders and Royal Scots regiments.
Prime Minister John Major announced the decision to return the stone on July 3, saying, ``I believe that on this, the 700th anniversary of its removal from Scotland, it is appropriate to return it to its historic homeland.''
The return of the stone has been greeted with some cynicism in Scotland, where the governing Conservative Party has few supporters.
``I think the Tories want it in Edinburgh because they hope to get some political support from it,'' said Donald Moffat, a member of the local council. He belongs to the Scottish National Party, which advocates independence.
Forsyth told the crowd that England and Scotland were joined in ``firm friendship.''
Protesting Scottish nationalists were moved 500 yards away, and police confiscated their loudspeaker.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP/file. The Stone of Scone is shown beneath theby CNBcoronation chair in London's Westminster Abbey in this photo from
July. color.