A battlefield with Government forces encaging in a battle with an invading army could be a headline from today in many parts of the world but not something many would consider a headline of events unfolding just a few miles South of Penrith.
Today, 18th December 2024, marks the 279th anniversary of just such a battle that took place just a few miles south of Penrith along what is now the A6 in the village of Clifton. A battle considered to be the last battle fought on English soil. A battle that not only played a role in shaped the county in 1745 but that shaped the country we live in today and left lasting legacies locally in Clifton and in Penrith.
On this day in 1745, as Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite forces retreated from Derby, After invading England in an attempt to reclaim the throne lost by King James VII of Scotland and II of England in 1688. Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite forces engaged with government troops led by the Duke of Cumberland at Clifton. The battle resulted in the deaths of 12 Jacobites and 10 government soldiers, etching Clifton's name into history as it became the last battle on English soil.
Clifton retains poignant reminders of the historic event in 1745, A 400-year-old oak tree, now part of the Oaks estate, serves as a Scottish war cemetery and stands as a living testament to the past. Protected by a preservation order, the tree now marks the entrance to the estate but is also the final resting place of some of the fallen Jacobite army that battled in Clifton 279 years ago today.
In St. Cuthbert's Churchyard in the village, a gravestone commemorates the English soldiers who also perished in the 1745 battle, while a memorial built around the village well further honours Clifton's significant place in history and the last battle on English soil. Local street names also provide a modern reminder to the history that unfolded in Clifton on the 18th of December 1745.
To mark this anniversary, pupils from Clifton Primary School are delving into the rich history that surrounds them. Through exploring local landmarks and engaging with the stories of the past, the young historians will be gaining a deeper understanding of the events that shaped their community and the country 279 years ago.
The 1745 Association with members from around the world are also marking the anniversary with a day of events for its members including Laying a wreath of red roses at the graves of the Hanoverian dead and Laying a wreath of white roses at the Jacobite Oak.
A short service of prayers and tribute to the fallen will be led by Rev’d Canon Dr Bob Harley, Honorary Vice-Chairman of the 1745 Association.
Looking ahead, Clifton Community Council is planning to commemoration for the 280th anniversary next year involving the community, to mark the legacy of the battle and celebrate the enduring heritage and legacy it has created for Clifton.
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