Latest news with #Dukeof
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Housebuilding could unearth Culloden battle relics
Archaeologists suggest artefacts connected to the 279-year-old Battle of Culloden could be unearthed during construction of up to 400 new homes in Inverness. Developer Springfield Properties has secured outline planning permission to build on farmland near Culloden House, which was Bonnie Prince Charlie's battlefield headquarters. Members of the prince's Jacobite army marched from nearby Culloden Parks to join the fighting against the Duke of Cumberland's government army. Highland Council's historic environment team said the building site had "high potential" for archaeology. Springfield Properties said it would have an archaeologist on hand if full planning permission was granted for the development at Milton of Culloden. Death masks recreate face of Bonnie Prince Charlie New evidence uncovered about Battle of Culloden Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, led a rising in 1745 to win back the thrones of Britain for his father, the exiled James VIII. The Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746 saw the prince and his forces face King George II's government army, led by the Duke of Cumberland, George's son. The prince was defeated and about 1,600 men were killed - 1,500 of them Jacobites. It has been described as the last pitched battle to be fought on British soil. A few days before the battle, Bonnie Prince Charlie commandeered Culloden House as his lodgings and HQ. It was the home of Duncan Forbes of Culloden, a prominent Scottish judge. Today the property is a hotel. Culloden Parks was an area of fields enclosed by drystone walls in the grounds of the house. Some of the walls still survive and experts from public body Historic Environment Scotland examined the site in 2022. Artefacts recovered from the battlefield in recent years have included lead musket balls and a shoe buckle believed to have belonged to a clan chief. Highland Council planning officials, in a report to councillors, recommended granting outline planning consent to Springfield Properties with some conditions. They included monitoring for archaeology related to the battle, and also the remains of a Bronze Age settlement or burial site. The Bronze Age site is to be left as an open space in the new housing development. Planning officials said: "The application area is considered to have high archaeological potential. "A condition to ensure the survey, evaluation, preservation and recording of any archaeological and historic features is recommended." Dave Main, Springfield North managing director, said the company was pleased to receive outline planning permission. He added: "As a Scottish housebuilder established in the Highlands, we greatly value the cultural importance of the surrounding area and have worked closely with the council throughout the planning process. "In line with our commitment to the site, we will have an archaeologist on hand to ensure any heritage considerations are carefully addressed." More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds Opponents to the new development include a local honey business. Mark Card set up Loch Ness Honey Company 10 years ago, but said it was only over the last three years that farm and woodland at Milton of Culloden, Inverness, had been zoned for housing. He said it threatened to disrupt the movement of queen bees, which lay all the eggs in the business's honey-producing hives - of which there are more than 125. Culloden Community Council has also expressed concerns for bees in a response it has sent to Highland Council. It acknowledged more affordable housing was needed, but claimed building at Milton of Culloden would also put additional pressures on already overstretched community facilities and lead to the loss of good quality farmland. Developer Springfield Properties said it was a responsible housebuilder, adding that it would be guided by an ecology survey during construction. Highland Council
BBC News
06-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Housebuilding could unearth Battle of Culloden relics
Archaeologists suggest artefacts connected to the 279-year-old Battle of Culloden could be unearthed during construction of up to 400 new homes in Springfield Properties has secured outline planning permission to build on farmland near Culloden House, which was Bonnie Prince Charlie's battlefield of the prince's Jacobite army marched from nearby Culloden Parks to join the fighting against the Duke of Cumberland's government Council's historic environment team said the building site had "high potential" for archaeology. Springfield Properties said it would have an archaeologist on hand if full planning permission was granted for the development at Milton of Culloden. Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, led a rising in 1745 to win back the thrones of Britain for his father, the exiled James Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746 saw the prince and his forces face King George II's government army, led by the Duke of Cumberland, George's prince was defeated and about 1,600 men were killed - 1,500 of them Jacobites. It has been described as the last pitched battle to be fought on British soil.A few days before the battle, Bonnie Prince Charlie commandeered Culloden House as his lodgings and was the home of Duncan Forbes of Culloden, a prominent Scottish judge. Today the property is a Parks was an area of fields enclosed by drystone walls in the grounds of the of the walls still survive and experts from public body Historic Environment Scotland examined the site in recovered from the battlefield in recent years have included lead musket balls and a shoe buckle believed to have belonged to a clan chief. Highland Council planning officials, in a report to councillors, recommended granting outline planning consent to Springfield Properties with some included monitoring for archaeology related to the battle, and also the remains of a Bronze Age settlement or burial Bronze Age site is to be left as an open space in the new housing officials said: "The application area is considered to have high archaeological potential. "A condition to ensure the survey, evaluation, preservation and recording of any archaeological and historic features is recommended."Dave Main, Springfield North managing director, said the company was pleased to receive outline planning added: "As a Scottish housebuilder established in the Highlands, we greatly value the cultural importance of the surrounding area and have worked closely with the council throughout the planning process. "In line with our commitment to the site, we will have an archaeologist on hand to ensure any heritage considerations are carefully addressed." Opponents to the new development include a local honey Card set up Loch Ness Honey Company 10 years ago, but said it was only over the last three years that farm and woodland at Milton of Culloden, Inverness, had been zoned for said it threatened to disrupt the movement of queen bees, which lay all the eggs in the business's honey-producing hives - of which there are more than Community Council has also expressed concerns for bees in a response it has sent to Highland acknowledged more affordable housing was needed, but claimed building at Milton of Culloden would also put additional pressures on already overstretched community facilities and lead to the loss of good quality Springfield Properties said it was a responsible housebuilder, adding that it would be guided by an ecology survey during construction.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
William goes on walking tour with firm supporting his homelessness project
The Prince of Wales went on a walking tour of Aberdeen with a homeless-friendly employer now working in the city. William's Homewards project, which aims to eradicate homelessness in all its forms, is supporting Invisible Cities Aberdeen, a social enterprise offering walking city tours across the UK guided by people who have experienced homelessness. The future king spent around 30 minutes on the streets of Aberdeen, affectionately known as the Granite City, as he walked from a reception with young people starting on the employment ladder to an event celebrating the work of Invisible Cities. William began his day in Scotland by launching a partnership between his homelessness project and a major recruitment firm to provide employment opportunities for those without a permanent home. Hays, a global recruitment firm, has become an official supporter of the prince's Homewards project, which is working in six locations across the UK. Hays has committed to supporting Homewards by securing commitments for employment opportunities within the firm. The prince, also known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, joined a group of young people in a workshop discussing Project Flourish, a youth employability programme, created by Hays and EveryYouth – a national youth charity for those who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. William sat at a table and discussed job prospects with young people, and after some told him they had been looking for work for up to two years, the prince replied: 'I think things are pretty demoralising having waited so long and keep getting rejected, that's going to get you down.' He arrived at Trinity Hall on Holburn Street on foot around half-an-hour later, where people in cafes and hairdressers came out to catch a glimpse of him as he made his way into the hall. In an upstairs chamber William met a group of people who had just completed their training with Invisible Cities to give guided tours similar to the one he had just been on.
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
I was never informed of the IWM's plans to close the gallery bearing my name
It is ironic that when the news broke that the Imperial War Museum had announced that it was closing the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, I was travelling around Ukraine interviewing soldiers about their courage in their brutal three year war with their Russian neighbour. It is my eleventh visit to the war-torn country including several visits to the frontline. Championing bravery has played a major part in my life for the past 40 years. Sadly, the closure of the gallery on June 1 marks the end, for now at least, of arguably my greatest achievement in this area. Since 1986 I have – patiently and sensitively – devoted significant resources and time to building up a collection of Victoria Crosses (VCs), by some way the largest in the world, so that these stories of incredible gallantry could be enjoyed by visitors to London. For the past 15 years these decorations have been on public display in a free exhibition. It was with a heavy heart that I broke off my interviews with some of the bravest men on the planet to read the statement from the IWM, about which they had not even had the courtesy to inform me. The Chairman of the trustees, Sir Guy Weston, never spoke to me about it. Should I not have been the first to know? HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the Museum, and High Commissioners from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka plus two senior military figures are amongst the serving trustees. They were presumably involved in the decision. Did none of them ask whether I had been informed? The Lord Ashcroft Gallery was opened by HRH The Princess Royal in 2010 and has displayed my collection of some 230 VCs and George Crosses (GCs), along with a number of VCs and GCs either owned by or loaned to the IWM. I not only agreed to loan my collection but I also paid more than £5 million to create a spacious gallery for the medals and associated memorabilia. Now, my sincere hope is that those who have not visited the gallery so far will do so over the next three months before it is too late. I would love nothing better than the gallery to go out on a 'high' in terms of visitor numbers. I have had a passion for the concept of bravery since I was a small boy and was told by my father, Eric, about his experiences as a young officer taking part in the D-Day landings of June 6 1944. My father was wounded during the landings on Sword Beach but fought on until ordered from the battlefield for treatment. My fascination with valour transformed itself over time into an interest in gallantry medals which are a tangible memento of service and courage. God willing, I will be 80 early next year, and I had hoped that my VC and GC collection would remain on public display at the IWM for the rest of my days. Especially so as I had enjoyed my years as a trustee of the IWM. I had already made arrangements to leave the collection to the IWM when it was time for me to meet my maker. It is inevitable that the collection will go into storage because it is impossible, in the short term at least, to find a suitable 'home' for it. The medals seem destined to gather dust in secure vaults – away from the public eye. However, my spirits have been lifted by the wave of support from all walks of life who believe that the IWM's decision is misguided. One Commonwealth minister even suggested their country might be amenable to housing the collection and putting it on public display. The current loan agreement for my medal collection had been due to expire on September 30 2025 but I had anticipated, given the huge popularity of the gallery, that it would routinely be renewed. The IWM had other plans, plans which it kept to itself. For several decades, I have been seen as a 'champion' of bravery, not only as a collector but as an author and lecturer. I carry out this work because I believe that those who risked, and sometimes gave, their lives in acts of bravery must never be forgotten. The closure of the gallery bearing my name may make the task of highlighting the deeds of the 'bravest of the brave' more challenging. But it is a challenge that I intend to meet, one way or another.
