Dean Castle Arms and Armour

Replica Great Helm

Description:

Although helms such as this were used throughout Europe, and would have been used during the early years of the Wars of Independence, they probably only saw limited use by Scottish knights who more often than not dismounted to fight and these helmets would probably have hindered their wearers vision too much to be of use to anyone fighting on foot, they were primarily a mounted knight's helmet. 

One of the few existing descriptions of Sir William Wallace describes him as wearing a simple steel cap, probably an early type of bascinet, which would have been open faced to allow for better vision. The mounted knights from England which he faced at Stirling and Falkirk though may well have been wearing helmets such as this.

Source:

Dean Castle

Digital Number:

RI_DC_0000423

Copyright:

East Ayrshire Leisure Trust