Nearly 277 years ago Swarkestone was the scene of one of the most momentous incidents in English history, often referred to as the ‘45’. James II, the last Stuart King of England went into exile in France in 1688 after which the Jacobites made several unsuccessful attempts to regain the throne. Until in 1745, it was the turn of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, usually known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, to try to overthrow the English monarch. Support for the cause was half-hearted, but enough clansmen were raised for the march south. The English were unprepared for an invasion as most of the troops were abroad and King George, fearing the worst, prepared to return to Germany.

On 4 December 1745, Charles Edward Stuart and his army reached Derby and made arrangements for the capture of the strategically important Swarkestone Bridge. It was the only bridge on the River Trent between Burton and Nottingham. Charles and his supporters were unaware of the panic the uprising had caused in London. There were no signs of help coming from France or a revolt in support of Charles. As a result, a meeting was held at Exeter House in Derby when the Jacobite generals decided to retreat, despite the protestations of their leader.

If the march had continued, it would probably have been successful and the whole course of British history changed. In memory of this important event, a cairn was erected in the Crewe and Harpur gardens marking the southernmost point reached by Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army.

Re-enactors take part in parades, wreath laying and recreations of battle during the first weekend of December, as Prince Charlie was in Derby on December 4th in 1745. The focus is on the Crewe and Harpur in Swarkestone on the Saturday and in the city of Derby on the Sunday. Expect actors dressed in period costume, pipe bands, wreath laying at the Cairn at Swarkestone and at the Prince Charlie Statue in Derby, living history encampments and skirmishes with lots of firepower!