On 22 April 1304, Edward I of England begins the siege of the strategically important Stirling Castle, held by Sir William Oliphant and 30 men. The siege ended on 24 July after 3 months of bombardment by 12 siege engines including the infamous Warwolf.
Robert the Bruce who was in service of Edward I at this time was tasked with transporting the Warwolf trebuchet from Inverkip to the siege of Stirling Castle. Bruce reported that the ‘great engine of Inverkip’ was unmanageable and that no cart large enough could be found to carry it.