Bonnie Prince Charlie’s crushing defeat at Culloden is one of the best-known episodes in Scottish history – but now the story of his greatest victory is to be told in Scotland’s very own version of the Bayeux .

Original photograph by Gillian Hart.

David Lee and Gaynor Allen explain how the EMBROIDERERS project came about and the organisers’ appeal for WANTED FOR EPIC East Lothian volunteer embroiderers. BATTLE TAPESTRY

he is one of the for the huge tapestry, a key part of an armies. The Battle Trust is especially keen greatest and best-known historical ambitious £15m campaign to build a to hear from individuals and groups artworks. Now an 80 metre-long living history visitor centre in around Dunbar and Haddington who are T tapestry commemorating Bonnie – and to protect the willing to embroider the panels relating Prince Charlie's glorious campaign, up to battlefield site from development. to John Cope’s route in the days before an including his victory at the Battle of Although over half the panels have the battle. Prestonpans in September 1745, is taking already been allocated, volunteer Prestonpans was the first battle of the shape – and will find a permanent home embroiderers are still being sought in second major Jacobite rebellion, which in East Lothian. communities along the route of both began when Charles Edward Stuart came The project is being co-ordinated by to Scotland to raise troops and reclaim the Battle of Prestonpans 1745 Heritage the crown for his deposed father James Trust as a way of portraying the youthful from George II. The crushing victory, hope and ambition of Charles Edward which saw the Hanoverians flee in less Stuart and his men, rather than than ten minutes, was a huge morale concentrating on the slaughter at boost for the Jacobites, who marched Culloden the following spring. towards London, getting as far as Derby Community groups across Scotland before returning to Scotland only to be will be recreating over 80 different scenes finally defeated at Culloden.

The panel designs have been created by East Lothian artist Andrew Crummy.

EAST LOTHIAN LIFE Original photograph by Gillian Hart. mother-of two, is helping to embroider Each panel will take up to 100 two panels with her friends in the hours to complete. Musselburgh Craft Clinic. She said: ‘We are all very excited about the tapestry. It ‘We want to mark the event by is a fantastic idea, and wonderful to think building a living history visitor centre to that like the Bayeux Tapestry it could last tell the story of the battle and its message over 1,000 years. today – and to work with the Scottish ‘We are doing two panels, the Prince Government to protect our heritage site.’ staying overnight at Pinkie House and the The Trust is recruiting embroiderers Highland army march to Carberry Hill across Scotland to complete a tapestry and Birslie Brae. Our group is delighted panel over the winter. It is hoped each to be a part of this venture and can’t wait one will be crafted by groups from the to get started.’ area depicted or with some connection to it. Communities in Nantes and St Nazaire The creation of the Professor Martin Margulies, who wrote are also helping out with early segments the definitive historical account of the depicting Charles’ departure from France. Prestonpans Tapestry is just Battle of Prestonpans, said the tapestry The panel designs have been created by one of part of the work of the was a wonderful idea – and that it was East Lothian artist Andrew Crummy in Battle Trust. impossible to study Culloden without the manner of the 1745 cartoon in which understanding the earlier battle. Sir John Cope, Commander of the It is hoped the sections will be ready to ‘Prestonpans set the stage for one of Government forces, confirmed his own be collected and sewn together in June the most dramatic and crucial moments defeat to his superiors at Berwick, as 2010. The Trust plans to parade the in history: the turnabout at Derby,’ he Colonel Gardiner, the Hanoverian hero, completed tapestry in France, then explained. ‘If Charles had kept on going, lay dying in Tranent Manse. through Scotland to Edinburgh following instead of retreating at the chiefs’ ‘We needed something simple that the same Prince’s route. It will be brought insistence, would he have won? Then would be achievable for different back to Prestonpans for its permanent would he have kept his promise to break individuals to embroider, so a cartoon home – eventually in the new living the Union? Likewise, if Prestonpans had style was perfect,’ explains Mr Crummy. history visitor centre, campaigners hope. gone the other way there never would ‘This is a very ambitious project, but we The creation of the Prestonpans have been a Culloden, or Prince-in-the- have had a fantastic response.’ Tapestry is just one part of the work of Heather, the saga of which has played an Mr Crummy has already spent nine the Battle Trust, formed in 2006. It also important role in defining Scottish months researching the project and has a carries out annual re-enactments of the identity. Prestonpans was an integral rough draft of all the panels. ‘It is a huge battle every September – with cannon component of that saga.’ undertaking,’ he added. ‘We have to get it and musket fire and a Highland charge as historically accurate as it’s possible to creating mayhem in Cuthill Park, Each panel tells a particular be. There are 400-500 historical Prestonpans. phase of the Prince’s journey. references and getting all the facts has The weekend’s events also included involved extensive research.’ storytelling and weapons demonstrations, Dr Gordon Prestoungrange, Baron of a battle ceilidh and wreath laying at the Prestoungrange and chair of the Heritage It is a fantastic idea, and Gardiner Obelisk and the Battle Cairn, Trust, came up with the idea of the wonderful to think that like the close to Meadowmill Sports Centre. tapestry while visiting Bayeux in France. Grants have been received from the ‘I saw the tapestry and saw no reason Bayeux Tapestry it could last Heritage Lottery for a battlefield why we could not do something similar over 1000 years. archaeological study and from the Arts in Scotland,’ he said. Council and Awards for All for The tapestry will focus on Charles’ ‘Each panel tells a particular phase of storytelling and school visits. Guided campaign from St Nazaire in France the Prince’s journey, and the Trust is tours of the battlesite are regularly given across to Eriskay in the Western Isles, determined to ask each community and interpretation boards and markers and then to Prestonpans between July represented to give its opinion on the way are being placed. and September 1745. Places to be it is represented,’ said Dr Prestoungrange. depicted along the way include ‘Communities can make suggestions to If any individual or group is interested in Glenfinnan, Fort Augustus, Perth, Falkirk improve what is depicted.’ helping please contact Gillian Hart at the and Edinburgh. The majority of scenes, In Eriskay, islanders raised questions Prestoungrange Gothenburg in however, focus on events in East Lothian. about the depiction of a three-masted Prestonpans on 01875 819922. Later sections concentrate on rejoicing ship and the geography of the islands and www.battleofprestonpans1745.org in Edinburgh at the Jacobite victory. the design was changed when it was Dr Prestoungrange defended the pointed out that Barra was in the wrong decision to end the tapestry on a high place relative to the beach where the note for Charles and to leave out Prince landed. Culloden. He said: ‘The story of the Each panel will take up to 100 hours Prince’s eventual defeat at Culloden is oft to complete and will be embroidered told – but his greatest success is not. His onto unbleached linen with woollen arrival from France with just seven men from New Lanark Mill. Strict guidelines and raising of the clans leading to victory about how the panels should be at Prestonpans symbolised the youthful completed have been laid down to ensure hope and ambition of Charles. He was the finished tapestry has a consistency just 26 at the time. about it. Laura Young, a community artist and Original photograph by Garry Menzies.

EAST LOTHIAN LIFE