The Battle of Culloden to be remembered with events both on site and online
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A FULL weekend of events has been arranged to remember the tragedy that was the Battle of Culloden fought on April 16, 1746.
Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) who run the battleground has confirmed details to commemorate the battle this year.
Some events will be at the site of the battle, and some online from Thursday April 14 – Sunday April 17.
NTS operations manager for Culloden, Raoul Curtis-Machin said: “The Battle of Culloden was the culmination of a year of brutal conflict across Britain. So many people were affected and the events on the battlefield and their impacts echo still to this day, which is why so many people join in its commemoration.”
Booking for all on site events is essential, except the Commemoration Service. Book at www.nts.org.uk. Online events will be accessible at https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/culloden-commemoration-2022.
The battle marked the brutal end of the final Jacobite Rising. It was one of the most harrowing battles in British history.
Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops. It was the last pitched battle on British soil and, in less than an hour, around 1,600 men were slain, 1,500 of them Jacobites.
The Culloden Visitor Centre beside the battlefield features artefacts from both sides of the battle and interactive displays that reveal the background to the conflict. It is both a monument and a guide to a pivotal day in history.
The full weekend programme is:
April 14
10:15 On site - Conservation Grazing at Culloden. How NTS manage the landscape through the use of grazing. Cattle, horses, and goats all play their part. Booking is essential.
10:30 Online - War Stories. Discover a range of perspectives on the battle in this series of 20 minute talks. These talks are free to log into and listen.
14:00 On site – The blueprint of Culloden. Join the NTS engagement and estate team for an hour-long tour of the battlefield. This tour will explore the tactics of battle, the role of the calvary and artillery, and the impact of the conflict on the communities that surround Culloden. Booking is essential.
April 15
10:15 On site - Conservation Grazing at Culloden.
10:30 Online - Then and now. Join Derek Alexander head of archaeology for the NTS and Prof Christopher Duffy author of The ’45 and Fight for a Throne. The Jacobite ’45 Reconsidered as they discuss the recent archaeological dig on site and new maps that have been drawn together.
13:00 On site and online - Aftermath and Cumberland's Policy in Scotland. Join Prof Murray Pittock author of Culloden in our annual 1745 Association lecture as he examines the impact of government policy in Scotland in the aftermath of Culloden. This session will be broadcast online with limited seats available on site. Booking is essential.
14:00 On site - The blueprint of Culloden. Join the NTS engagement and estate team for an hour-long tour of the battlefield. This tour will explore the tactics of battle, the role of the calvary and artillery, and the impact of the conflict on the communities that surround Culloden. Booking is essential.
April 16
11:00 On site - Commemoration service. Join the Gaelic Society of Inverness in the annual commemoration of the battle. The event will consist of wreath laying and an address by the Honorary Chief of the Society. This is an un ticketed event, but parking is limited on site.
13:00 On site and online - Perspectives of battle. Join David Alston, author of Slaves and Highlanders: Silenced Histories of Scotland and the Caribbean, Maggie Craig author of Damn Rebel Bitches and Bare Ass Banditti and Dr Arran Johnston founding director of the Scottish Battlefields Trust as they discuss perspectives on the battle, highlighting often overlooked voices and consequences of the conflict. This session will be broadcast online with limited seats available on site. Booking is essential.
April 17
10:15 On site - Conservation Grazing at Culloden. Booking is essential.
10:30 Online - The view from the field. Join operations manager Raoul Curtis Machin and estate manager Catriona McIntosh as they talk to members of the Culloden estate team about their ongoing work. They will discuss the impact of the landscape of the battlefield, sense of place and what care day to day looks like.
13:00 Online - Talking Tartan. This fabric plays a huge role in Scottish culture. Discover more about tartan weaving today and the history of the cloth in this interesting and engaging talk with Andrew Mackenzie, head of Old Master Paintings at Bonhams and Claire Campbell owner, founder and driving force behind Prickly Thistle Tartan.
14:00 On site – The blueprint of Culloden. This hour-long tour of the battlefield will explore the tactics of battle, the role of the calvary and artillery, and the impact of the conflict on the communities that surround Culloden. Booking is essential.
