Outlaw King snub for Berwick

Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce in Outlaw King, partly filmed in Berwick.

The Robert the Bruce movie was partially shot on Berwick’s quayside and Old Bridge.

The credits say it was ‘filmed on location entirely in Scotland (according to the borders of 1320)’

It prompted Berwick resident Canon Alan Hughes to pen a letter to The Scotsman newspaper.

He wrote: ‘As Nicola Sturgeon mulls over a second referendum for Scotland, an interesting snippet of xenophobia has slipped into the credits of the soon to be released film ‘Outlaw King’ billed as the ‘untold true story of Robert the Bruce.’

‘Netflix spent a month in Berwick upon Tweed, preparing location sites and filming. Our 1641 Bridge dressed to represent medieval London Bridge, road signs removed from posts, to be replaced with bloody severed heads, our Elizabethan Quayside staged as The Port of Glasgow, although Glasgow did not have a serious port in medieval times.

‘At a recent preview in Glasgow, whilst thanking the British Film Institute, the people of The United Kingdom and The National Lottery, a touch of xenophobia appeared in the rolling credits. A statement that the enterprise was “filmed on location entirely in Scotland (according to the borders of 1320)” more than a little discourteous to Berwickers of today, who gave such a warm welcome to cast and crew.

‘Berwick did fall back to Scotland in 1318 but only with the help of Flemish and German mercenaries and only for a few years until the Scots defeat at Halidon Hill, being freely gifted back for a time by Henry VI during The War of the Roses.

‘After changing hands some thirteen times between England and Scotland over, Berwick was finally and irrevocably lost by Scotland to England by battle in 1482.

‘This aside, filming also took place in Tweedmouth, on the south side of the River Tweed, a community which prides itself on never having been taken by Scotland and therefore outwith even the ‘1320’ claim.

‘Berwick upon Tweed truly is a location staycation destination however, we hope that the film will encourage folk to see it as much more than a delightful view from a railway bridge. Our Elizabethan Walls, Georgian Houses, restaurants, antique shops and glorious beaches will reward any visitor.

‘The addition of Tweedmouth and Berwick upon Tweed to the credits would be appreciated, after all, we English do fund The National Film Institute, The National Lottery and are people of our as yet still United Kingdom.’