The Berkeley Chess Scottish Cardinal Blue Chess Set

• Stone crushed resin chess pieces.
• Striking cardinal red and cream colouring
• Superb detail.
• Recognisable historical characters/symbols.
• Matched with a stunning blue erable board from Spain.

With a fascinating and complex history, Scotland has endured invasions many times and with its extraordinary growth, has contributed to culture and society. Hadrian’s Wall was erected after the Romans invaded Britain in the 1st century AD, the Normans came and conquered in 1066 with many Anglo-Saxons settling in Scotland. From here many English ways were adopted, feudalism established and chiefs of clan became nobility. As towns began to grow, trade increased and Scotland thrived.
Margaret, heiress to the throne died in 1920. Claiming the right to do so, Edward I of England bestowed the crown to John de Baliol. Unfortunately when Edward needed John’s help against the French, John entered into an alliance with the French. An enraged Edward invaded Scotland and made himself King. Naturally the Scots were none to happy about this and it was under the command of William Wallace that the Scots revolted and successfully outed the King at Stirling Bridge. Unfortunately soon after, Wallace was captured and brutally executed.
Following in Wallace’s footsteps, Robert the Bruce fought against the English at Bannockburn in 1314. It wasn’t until 1328 that Edward III recognised Scotland’s independence. Following the succession and eventual death of King James IV of Scotland, the throne went to his baby daughter, Mary Stuart. Mary had a hard life, being driven out by John Knox, returning to Scotland only to be captured and imprisoned. Escaping and fleeing to England, she was captured and executed at the hand of Queen Elizabeth 1. It was Mary’s son, James VII, that eventually took the throne on the death of Queen Elizabeth I and at last England and Scotland were united under one Monarch. The age-old rivalry between the two formally ended in 1707 with the agreement of the Act of Union.
Berkeley Chess have captured the rich and varied history of Scotland in this majestic chess set and we have matched it with a stunning blue arable board made in Spain to create this truly enviable chess set.
The King:         King Robert the Bruce
The Queen:      Mary Queen of Scots
The Bishop:     John Knox
The Knight:     Sir William Wallace
The Rook:       Scottish Tower House
The Pawn:     Scottish Thistle

The chess board in this set has been expertly crafted by Rechapados Ferrer in Spain using precision laser cutting techniques and stunning wooden veneers combined with expert lacquering and finishing. The underside of the board is finished in a satin veneer that is a different colour from the playing surface of the board. The veneers used for the underside may vary in colour from batch to batch.