On Wednesday, children from Clifton Primary School joined members of the 1745 Association and Clifton Community Council to lay wreaths at two grave sites honoring soldiers who died in the Battle of Clifton on 18th December 1745. The commemoration marked the 279th anniversary of the last battle fought on English soil.
The Battle of Clifton took place during the Jacobite uprising led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. His campaign sought to reclaim the throne lost by his grandfather, King James II of England and VII of Scotland, in 1688. Supporters of the exiled James, known as Jacobites (from the Latin “Jacobus”), remained loyal to his cause, leading to a series of uprisings in the 18th century.
In November 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army of 5,000 men captured Carlisle before heading south through Penrith, where they sought support for their cause. The prince stayed at the George Hotel, then known as the George and Dragon Inn, but received little local backing. The Jacobites advanced as far south as Derby but were forced to retreat to Scotland due to the lack of widespread support and mounting pressure from English forces.
Clifton became a critical site during the Jacobites' retreat, as it secured two key bridges over the rivers Lowther and Eamont, enabling their forces to withdraw safely. On 18th December 1745, the retreating Jacobites clashed with government forces led by the Duke of Cumberland. The battle, which began at 5 p.m., saw the loss of twelve Jacobite soldiers and ten government dragoons.
The skirmish allowed the Jacobites to regroup in Penrith before retreating north. By the following day, Penrith was relieved without resistance, and local residents captured at least 80 fleeing Jacobites. The Duke of Portland rewarded the town's loyalty with a gift of 50 guineas, which funded the purchase of the gilt chandeliers still hanging in St Andrew’s Church.
The fallen dragoons from the Battle of Clifton are interred at St Cuthbert’s Churchyard, while the Jacobite soldiers are believed to be buried beneath an oak tree in what is now the Oaks housing estate. The tree and surrounding area are protected as a Scottish war cemetery.
To honor these historic events, the 1745 Association began the day at Abbott Lodge Farm, south of Clifton, a known Jacobite assembly point and the site where a 4kg cannonball was discovered. The group also visited Brougham Hall and Clifton Peel Tower before gathering at St Cuthbert’s Church.
There, they were joined by Clifton Primary School pupils and the chair of Clifton Community Council. The ceremony included wreath-laying at both burial sites to remember those who gave their lives in a battle that shaped the course of British history.
“The Battle of Clifton is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made and the turbulent history that shaped the United Kingdom,” said a spokesperson for the 1745 Association. “Today, we commemorate not only the bravery of those who fought but also the enduring impact of their actions.”
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