Jacobite Battle of Culloden remembered with memorial service at the National Trust for Scotland site and events attended by Highland residents and visitors
The brave men who fell at the Battle of Culloden were remembered with a moving tribute at the annual memorial service on Saturday morning.
The service takes place each year on the Saturday immediately following the anniversary of the fighting and commemorates the battle in which 1500 lives were lost in the space of just one hour, and which marked the end of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and 46.
And, despite the grey and damp weather, plenty of people turned out to pay their respects and remember the battle, its bloody aftermath and its lasting impact on Highland life.
Following the traditional procession of standard bearers and mourners from the visitor centre to the memorial cairn, a service of remembrance took place, followed by the laying of a number of wreaths.
The ceremony was part of a series of events held at the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) site in the days leading up to and after the anniversary of the battle.
Inside the visitor centre, costumed presentations have been taking place over the weekend including Clach An Airm, the story of a clan as they prepared for battle, and Fight like a Highlander, where visitors discovered what it was like to fight with a basket-hilted broadsword on the field at Culloden.
As part of the Christopher Duffy Memorial Lecture series, on Saturday afternoon Dr Darren Scott Layne and Dr Arran Johnston also shared insights into the Jacobite uprising using data and eyewitness testimony.
This year’s various activities also included a team-up between the NTS and the National Trust to provide “an insight into the complexity of the battle” in a pair of podcasts this month.
In a unique link-up, both conservation charities are dedicating an episode of their popular podcasts to explore two of the key figures of the battle which ended the Jacobite claim on the British throne.
The National Trust for Scotland’s Love Scotland episode, hosted by Jackie Bird, was released on Friday and explored the fascinating story of Lord George Murray with guest, historian and National Trust for Scotland trustee, Professor Murray Pittock.
National Trust for Scotland President and Love Scotland Presenter Jackie Bird said: “The Battle of Culloden is one of the most enduring events in Scottish history, and all these years later there is still so much to learn. Professor Pittock’s insights into the role of Lord George Murray and his difficult relationship with Charles Edward Stuart give us a sense of these historical figures as real people, with complex motivations. I hope this pair of podcasts will help listeners appreciate the personalities involved and their importance alongside the politics, tactics and legacy of the battle.”
Meanwhile the National Trust’s podcast focusses on the story of James Wolfe, whose childhood home Quebec House in Kent is in its care, and who was a critical player in the government army at the battle. It will be released on Monday, April 30.
