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Prestonpans, Battle Of Prestonpans Monument
Battle Site (18th Century) (1745), Commemorative Monument (Mid 20th Century) (1953)
Site Name Prestonpans, Battle Of Prestonpans Monument
Classification Battle Site (18th Century) (1745), Commemorative Monument (Mid 20th Century) (1953)
Alternative Name(s) Battle Of Prestonpans; Thorntree Field
Canmore ID 54986
Site Number NT47SW 10
NGR NT 404 744
NGR Description NT 404 744 and NT4023 7416
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/54986
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Tranent
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT47SW 10 centred 404 744 (NT 404 744 and NT4023 7416)
(Name: NT 404 744) Site of the Battle of Prestonpans AD 1745 (NAT)
(NR) (Also published on at 396 744).
OS 6" map (1853).
Extends onto map sheet NT37SE.
A tract of level ground lying between the villages of Preston, Meadow Mill, Cockenzie, and Seton, is the site of the battle fought on the morning of the 21st September 1745 between the Royal forces and the Highlanders in which the former were defeated.
Name Book 1853; New Statistical Account 1845 (NSA, W Cunningham)
Those killed at the Battle of Prestonpans were buried towards the N end of Thorntree Field near where there are still three thorn trees. Towards the close of the 18th century, when this field was being drained, the workmen came on a number of bodies with well-preserved clothing, a little NE of the farm steading at Thorntree Mains (NT 401 745).
P M'Neill 1883
Disposition of the opposing forces shown on plan (from evidence on Sir John Cope's trial), places the site of the battle in the area centred NT 404 744.
AO Archives 6" plan
Brander gives a full description of the battle, and his plan confirms the OS siting.
M Brander 1975
The monument/cairn to this battle lies at NT4023 7416.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), March 2002
This battlefield was included in a nation-wide study of key battle sites. A detailed gazetteer was created by The Battlefield Trust, which includes an historical overview of each site, detailed assessments of the action and its location and the number of troops involved, casualties, sources of information and an interpretation of the events and its impact on history.
This was the last Jacobite uprising. Charles Edward Stewart, the Young Pretender, landed in Scotland to launch a Jacobite rebellion. The government army, led by Sir John cope, sailed down from Aberdeen to Dunbar to meet the Jacobites. After a number of skirmishes and movements the two lines met and much of the government recruits fled. Other government troops and the Jacobites met and, after firing their muskets and throwing them down, the Jacobites drew their swords and ran forward in attack. Within 7 or 8 minutes they were in control of the field and had captured both the royal baggage and artillery. A large number of the government army was captured and Cope was able to retreat with only around 450 troops. The battlefield today is still largely open farmland, despite industry and housing built up around its edges. There may be significant archaeology preserved in the plough soil.
(For more detail, see the gazetteer and associated materials - MS 2522).
G Foard and T Partida 2005.
Excavation (November 2008 - November 2009)
NT 404 744 The site of the Battle of Prestonpans is situated E of Edinburgh. The battle, fought on the 21 September 1745, was the first of the ’45 rebellion and a dramatic Jacobite victory. Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) was present at the battle, leading his army of plaid-clad Highlanders against the redcoats of General John Cope.
The Battle of Prestonpans Community Archaeology Project was the first investigation to focus on the archaeology of this important battle. The aim of the project was to investigate the extent and survival of the battlefield, as much of it has been destroyed by housing and industrial development. The involvement of volunteers was an important part of the project and they provided assistance during excavation, metal detector survey, and by recounting local folklore and offering up their gardens for investigation.
The project which ran from November 2008–November 2009 included the targeted investigation of areas which
formed the battlefield and involved a systematic metal detector survey and excavation. Excavation in the grounds of Prestonpans Community Centre aimed to recover any evidence that might establish the position and condition of the former Preston House (NT37SE 1), which was extant during the battle. Geophysics and evaluation trenches identified traces of foundations, but all stone had been removed by 19th-century robber trenches. Fragments of 18th-century brick and slate were recovered, as were two 18th- to 19th-century
uniform buttons relating to the Mary Murray Institute, built in the grounds of the then ruinous Preston House.
The metal detector survey was undertaken with the assistance of members from the Scottish Artefact Recovery Group and the Scottish Detector Club. Areas selected for metal detecting included a field E of Bankton House, for evidence of the rout (NT37SE 43.00), but due to industrial contamination no conclusive results were produced. A field N of Tranent church was selected for evidence of skirmishing prior to the battle (NT47SW 8). This produced some post-medieval finds but nothing that could be associated with the battle. A geophysical survey was carried out to determine if at some time the enclosure around the church had been
reduced in size, a possibility suggested by the presence of carved stone and some human bone fragments on the surface. The main area of the metal detector survey was on fields either side of the 18th-century wagonway (NT47SW 35.00), which was thought to mark the location of the 1st engagement between the Government and Jacobite forces. Industrial contamination from local coal mining was a factor in the low recovery of artefacts (three musket balls and one pistol ball). However, the lack of material associated with the battle suggested that this was not the core of the battlefield as had previously been suggested. Metal detector
survey in fields surrounding Seton Mains Farm, c800m E of the original core area, recovered signature material in a distribution pattern representative of 18th-century warfare. The artefact assemblage included musket balls, pistol balls, and grapeshot, as well as musket accessories, such as a ramrod head.
Archive: GUARD. Report: East Lothian Council
Funder: Heritage Lottery Fund and Battle of Prestonpans 1745 Heritage Trust
Tony Pollard and Natasha Ferguson – Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, University of Glasgow
