The History Anorak

The History Anorak

Friday, 25 March 2016

Bonnie Prince Charlie

In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) led a rebellion in a bid to restore the British Throne to the House of Stuart. With the support of Highland clansmen he headed south and reached Derby before being beaten back. (He was finally defeated at the Battle of Culloden and fled to France with a price on his head.)

However, during his campaign southwards he stayed in Ashbourne in Derbyshire, and while there he declared his father to be the rightful king - James III.

Bonnie Prince Charlie statue in Derby
For such a significant event in history there is remarkably little to mark the spot where it happened. There is a very subtle plaque on a wall in the market place, which would be very easy to miss. In fact it is almost overshadowed by a second plaque marking the death of one Tom Fearns, aged 40, who died in 1930 after the balance bar of the town fire bell broke and hit him. 
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1 comment:

  1. Rosie26 March 2016 at 09:07

    It is a shame that the town doesn't make more of the event but then it doesn't seem to make much of its connections with Erasmus Darwin and Samuel Johnson either, unless I've missed something. I like the statue of the Bonnie Prince in Derby, it sits well behind the cathedral. Poor man having the fire bell fall on him:)

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Why not add your two pennyworth?

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