Gazetteer of Selected Fields of Conflict
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Scotland’s Historic Fields of Conflict Gazetteer: page 1 GAZETTEER OF SELECTED SCOTTISH BATTLEFIELDS LIST OF CONTENTS AULDEARN ................................................................................................................ 4 BANNOCKBURN ..................................................................................................... 12 BOTHWELL BRIDGE .............................................................................................. 37 BRUNANBURH ........................................................................................................ 42 DRUMCLOG ............................................................................................................. 44 DUNBAR II................................................................................................................ 49 FALKIRK I ................................................................................................................ 56 FALKIRK II ............................................................................................................... 62 HARLAW................................................................................................................... 73 KILLIECRANKIE ..................................................................................................... 78 KILSYTH ................................................................................................................... 84 LARGS ....................................................................................................................... 89 PINKIE ....................................................................................................................... 94 PRESTONPANS ...................................................................................................... 104 SHERIFFMUIR........................................................................................................ 115 STIRLING BRIDGE ................................................................................................ 123 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1: Auldearn (1645) - battlefield plan..................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Auldearn conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line)..................... 5 Figure 3: Bannockburn (1314): battlefield plan: day 1 .................................................. 14 Figure 4: Bannockburn (1314) – battlefield plan: day 2 ................................................ 15 Figure 5: Bannockburn: Alternative sites & conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line) ................................................................................................................. 18 Figure 3: Bothwell Bridge (1679) - battlefield plan....................................................... 37 Figure 4: Bothwell Bridge conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line) ....... 37 Figure 5: Drumclog (1679) - battlefield plan ................................................................. 44 Figure 6: Dunbar II (1650) - battlefield plan.................................................................. 49 Figure 7: Dunbar II conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line).................. 50 Figure 8: Falkirk I (1298) - battlefield plan.................................................................... 56 Figure 9: Falkirk II (1746) - battlefield plan .................................................................. 63 Figure 10: Falkirk II conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line) ................ 63 Figure 11: Harlaw (1411) - battlefield plan.................................................................... 73 Scotland’s Historic Fields of Conflict Gazetteer: page 2 Figure 12: Harlaw conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line).................... 73 Figure 13: Killiecrankie (1689) - battlefield plan........................................................... 78 Figure 14: Killiecrankie conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line)........... 78 Figure 15: Kilsyth (1645) - battlefield plan.................................................................... 85 Figure 16: Kilsyth conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line).................... 85 Figure 17: Largs (1263) - battlefield plan ...................................................................... 89 Figure 18: Largs conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line)....................... 89 Figure 19: Pinkie (1547) - battlefield plan ..................................................................... 95 Figure 20: Pinkie geology .............................................................................................. 95 Figure 21: Pinkie threats................................................................................................. 95 Figure 22: Prestonpans (1745) - battlefield plan .......................................................... 105 Figure 23: Prestonpans conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line) .......... 105 Figure 24: Sheriffmuir (1715) - battlefield plan........................................................... 116 Figure 25: Sheriffmuir conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line)........... 116 Figure 26: Stirling Bridge (1297) - battlefield plan...................................................... 123 Figure 27: Stirling Bridge conservation boundary suggested by Martin (red line)...... 123 Scotland’s Historic Fields of Conflict Gazetteer: page 3 INTRODUCTION This gazetteer is intended as a starting point for assessment of the importance, potential and management needs of the battlefields of Scotland. It has been prepared as a rapid overview and is based almost wholly upon secondary sources. It will require further enhancement based on detailed examination of primary sources for both the military history and the historic terrain. For selected battlefields this will also need to be complemented by limited investigation of the battle archaeology. The document should be used in conjunction with the UKFOC database. Battlefields listed in lower case are unlocated. References / Bibliography For each battle the references specified in section 3 are only those used in compiling the database & report. A more extensive bibliographic listing is provided in section 4, though this does not claim to be comprehensive, and in general these other secondary sources have not been consulted in preparing the present report. Only those primary source identified incidentally in web based searches are specifically listed. No attempt has been made to define a comprehensive catalogue of primary sources. Primary sources have not normally been consulted for either battle or terrain. Nor has there been systematic search of all records in the battlefield search. Archaeological & Designation references Detailed information on SAMs, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas etc are accessible via Pastmap and so details on each are not duplicated here. Similarly the NMRS data for each battlefield is accessible online via Canmore, for which the relevant NMRS reference numbers are given in the UKFOC database for each battle, so again this data is not normally repeated in the gazetteer. NMRS and SMR searches have been restricted to specifically battle related records on the SMR, rather than all records for the battlefield ‘search areas’ defined on the battlefield plans. Mapping sources For each battlefield the modern state of development has been assessed from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer mapping (2004). Geological evidence, where presented, has been derived from the British Geological Survey 1:50,000 drift geology mapping. Battlefield Plans The detail presented on the plans is highly stylised and intended only for illustrative purposes, providing a broad guide to deployments and action. Far more detailed research is required on most battlefields to enable more secure and accurate frontages, positioning etc. In addition only the most minimal attention has been possible to the recovery of the historic terrain. Scotland’s Historic Fields of Conflict Auldearn Gazetteer: page 4 Battle Name: Auldearn Council area: Highland Date: 9th May 1645 UKFOC number: 343 AULDEARN 1 SUMMARY 1.1 CONTEXT The Covenanter government of Scotland had entered into alliance with the English parliament and had entered the war in England in early 1644, the Scottish army having a dramatic impact in the campaign for the north of England. In response, following the royalists’ dramatic defeat at Marston Moor (Yorkshire, July 1644), the King appointed the Marquis of Montrose as his military commander in Scotland. On 28th August 1644 Montrose raised the royal standard and with little more than 2000 troops fought a campaign in which he had won a series of dramatic successes in the Highlands against the Covenanter forces. Heavily outnumbered, he effectively exploited the terrain to outmanoeuvre his enemy defeating them at Tippermuir, Aberdeen, Fyvie and Inverlochy. When in April he attempted an assault on Dundee a Covenanter army under Baillie responded. Montrose retreated north and an army under Hurry was dispatched in pursuit, getting between the royalists and Inverness. As the royalists advanced across the river Spey, Hurry fought a rearguard action as he moved closer to Inverness to unite with local Covenanter troops before engaging Montrose. The royalist forces withdrew to quarters in and to the east of Auldearn on the night of the 8th May, with scouts out to the west. Hurry, having united with the local forces now