Latest news with #Jacobite
Scotsman
35 minutes ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Inside the Scottish auction of rare treasures, from a Culloden cannonball to £12,000 frock
Every year, the Scotland Collected auction at Lyon & Turnbull offers buyers the chance to own some of the country's finest treasure. This year is no exception. On August 20 and 21, with a public viewing at their 33 Broughton Place premises from August 17 to 20, they'll be selling over 700 incredible lots. You could end up being the proud owner of, among many other things, an Edwardian sporran, a Victorian style antler settee, a Flying Scotsman train set, a bust of Robert Louis Stevenson, or a bottle of rare whisky. We spoke to head of sales John Mackie, and a few of the other specialists, about the forthcoming sale. Are the Scotland Collected auctions especially popular? As Scotland's oldest auctioneers, we are proud to hold our annual Scotland Collected auctions. This sale attracts buyers from all over the world, particularly those with Scottish lineage or those with an interest in our history and its craft. Are your buyers usually from abroad, or from here in Scotland? We have a mix of collectors, those who are based in the UK and those in countries like the USA, Canada and Australia with a strong Scottish connection. However, it is always surprising to see what wide and varied quarters the bidders come from. What particularly interesting lots do you have in the sale? Following on from the record-breaking Cairncross Collection auction in August 2025, we are excited to announce the largest private collection of Scottish freshwater pearl jewellery ever to come to market. Carefully collected over a number of years with the assistance of Cairncross of Perth, this collection was amassed by a private connoisseur who hopes their enthusiasm can now be passed on to a new generation of collectors. It is a remarkable opportunity to see, not only a comprehensive record of the renowned Perthshire jewellers designs celebrating the flora of Scotland, including designs rarely found at auction, such as the Timorous Beasties' brooch and a horse-chestnut design; but also a vast array of of Scottish freshwater pearls, showcasing the wide range of colours, shapes and lustres this magical Scottish gem can take. This year's auction is particularly varied with a range of Wemyss Ware, provincial and Scottish silverware, hardstone jewellery, Jacobite works of art and collections formed by individuals and families over many years. It also includes one of the largest collections of Scottish pistols to come to the open market in perhaps decades. These and other weapons link closely to the nation's turbulent past but are made with such quality they are works of art in their own right. These connect in with our wider Jacobite section which is always a very popular area to collectors. The collection spans early 17th century examples, which are extremely rare, to the iconic silver and steel Doune pistols. We are also delighted to present a collection from the former Earls of Airlie - a lineage stretching to Robert the Bruce and King James VI of Scotland and II of England. The Ogilvy family was established with lands in Angus as early as the 15th century, with Airlie Castle's foundations laid in 1432. For successive centuries, they have always had a close relationship to the monarchy; raising armies during the Jacobite rebellions to more recently, Lord Ogilvy 13th (8th) Earl of Airlie (1926-2023), who, acting as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth II, saw him oversee many significant Royal events. Which items do you expect to do particularly well? A wonderful lot in the sale is a dress worn by Lady Margaret Ogilvy, the Countess of Airlie, which reputedly was worn when she was a guest at Holyrood Palace in 1745, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was in attendance. Lady Ogilvy and her husband, David Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Airlie, were prominent Jacobites and supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Scotland. Eighteenth-century Scottish clothing with provenance is rare, but to have a piece connected to such a remarkable original owner, and one who may even have danced with the Prince himself, sets the imagination alight. Do the staff have any personal favourites? Kier Alexander, silver specialist: 'We usually offer a fine selection of work by the Scottish silversmith Graham Stewart,and this year is no exception, featuring his iconic honeycomb candlesticks, a beautifully engraved bowl, and a remarkably large centrepiece.' John Mackie, head of sales: 'At this time of year with the countryside in full abundance just looking at a hedgerow with its dog roses, buttercups and other wildflowers reminds me of the myriad patterns that inspired the well-known and collectable Fife pottery Wemyss Ware. Personally, I am very fond of the small pigs that the factory produced from the late 19th century onwards – the early examples are well-modelled and their slightly bewildered expressions are very engaging!' Colin Fraser, specialist: 'It has to be the 18th century invalid feeder, made by Hugh Clark of Perth. Not only is he a particularly rare maker, but invalid cups are seldom seen. This appears to be the only known example from Perth. Although it looks just like a rather odd cream jug this would have been essential to making sure a patient received food and most likely medicine from their carer.' Anything that's particularly rare? Colin Fraser: 'Rare items include a cannonball recovered from the battlefield of Culloden which is a wonderful example of a Scottish relic with an incredible story and provenance back to a family closely connected with the cause. Having been in an exhibition previously this is the first time it has ever been offered for sale.' Any items that are very collectable? Wemyss Ware was developed in the late 19th century as a more sophisticated, decorated range to complement the standard transfer-printed and other wares produced at the Fife Pottery. In many ways Wemyss is perfect for collectors, with its myriad range of patterns and shapes, each hand-painted by a particular artist and, by and large, identified by a maker's mark. It is an instantly recognisable aesthetic: the brightly coloured decoration on a stark white background, drawing inspiration from the Fife countryside. For more information, see
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Prince William and Kate 'eyeing up move' to historic castle with dark past
Prince William and Kate Middleton are understood to be considering a move from their three-bedroom home in Windsor after three years. There's ongoing speculation that Prince William and Kate Middleton could be considering a house move from their current home in Adelaide Cottage after three years. However, its the intriguing history of the potential residence which has sparked conversation. Adelaide Cottage is considered small in comparison to the size of the Wales family's previous full-time home, a grand apartment in Kensington Palace. Reports suggest they are seeking a larger space for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. An insider has hinted according to reports in the Mirror, that the royals might be eyeing Fort Belvedere, a magnificent gothic revival mansion situated within Windsor Great Park. Constructed in the 18th century, Fort Belvedere was the preferred royal dwelling of Edward VIII, who resided there both before his ascension to the throne and following his abdication to wed Wallis Simpson. This imposing castle was the location where the former king signed the documents that confirmed his notorious abdication in 1936. The expansive grade II-listed property spans 59 acres and features an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court. These features are said to be a huge selling point to Kate and Charlotte, both avid sports enthusiasts. Often referred to as The Fort, this country house also boasts a rose garden, walled garden, separate kitchen garden, large greenhouse, stables, two lakes, paddocks and three cottages for staff. The residence is accessible via a lengthy path and is encircled by a moat. The grand residence was once the site of several cannons from the 1745 Jacobite rising, historically positioned along its battlements. Edward VIII is credited with saving the building, a favourite summer tea house of Queen Victoria, from neglect and introducing opulent amenities. Following his departure, the estate stood mostly vacant until 1956 when Gerald Lascelles, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, took up residence. Initially a large mansion with 30 to 40 rooms, it's believed he downsized it to just eight bedrooms. The property was later leased in the early 1980s to Canadian retail magnate Galen Weston and his wife Hilary. Under the Westons' tenure, a polo stud was established on the grounds, and they famously entertained Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and Princess Caroline of Monaco during Hilary's 60th birthday celebrations in an expansive marquee adjacent to the house. Mr Weston, whose fortune was estimated at £5.2 billion, passed away in 2021 at the age of 80, but his family has maintained their residence there, with the property remaining under the ownership of the Crown Estate. A source with insider knowledge disclosed to the Mail on Sunday, "[The Waleses] feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial. This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis." It's understood that William and Kate contemplated residing in the unoccupied Fort Belvedere before ultimately choosing Adelaide Cottage. It's believed that they deemed Adelaide Cottage more fitting due to its proximity to Queen Elizabeth, and their desire to provide a more grounded upbringing for their children.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince William and Kate 'eyeing up move' to huge castle with dark past
As an insider claims that the Waleses are looking to upgrade from Adelaide Cottage to a grand castle, the strange history of their possible new home has been revealed Rumours are swirling that Prince William and Princess Kate might be looking to move out of their family home Adelaide Cottage after three years. And the colourful history of their portential new royal residence has now been revealed. Adelaide Cottage is a fraction of the size of the Wales family's former full-time - a palatial apartment in Kensington Palace and it has been reported they want a bigger place for kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. And an insider has claimed that the royals could be looking to relocate to Fort Belvedere, a stunning gothic revival mansion in Windsor Great Park. Built in the 18th century, Fort Belvedere became the favourite royal residence of Edward VIII, who lived there before he became monarch and after he abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson. The grand castle was where the former monarch signed the papers which sealed his infamous abdication in 1936. The sprawling, grade II-listed property is set across 59 acres of grounds and has an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, which sources say is particularly appealing for Kate and Charlotte, who both share a passion for sport. Commonly referred to as The Fort, the country house also boasts a rose garden, walled garden, separate kitchen garden, large greenhouse, stables, two lakes, paddocks and three cottages for staff. The home has a long path running to the entrance, and even has a moat surrounding it. The stately home used to be home to several cannons used in the Jacobite rising of 1745, which were long positioned along the home's battlements. Edward VIII rescued the building, which was used as a summer tea house by Queen Victoria, from falling into decay and installed the luxurious facilities. In the two decades after he left, the property remained largely empty until 1956, when Queen Elizabeth's cousin Gerald Lascelles moved in. Originally a mansion with 30 to 40 rooms, he is believed to have reduced it to an eight-bedroom house. It was then leased to Canadian retail billionaire Galen Weston and his wife Hilary in the early 1980s. The Westons built a polo stud in the grounds and hosted Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Princess Caroline of Monaco for Hilary's 60th birthday party in a huge marquee next the house. Mr Weston, who was said to be worth £5.2 billion, died at 80 in 2021, but his family continued to live at the property, which is owned by the Crown Estate. One well-connected source told the Mail on Sunday: '[The Waleses] feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial. This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis.' William and Kate are understood to have considered the vacant Fort Belvedere previously before deciding on Adelaide Cottage. At that point they are believed to have thought Adelaide Cottage was more suitable as it was closer to Queen Elizabeth and they also wanted to give their children a more down to earth start.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Prince William and Kate Middleton may leave Adelaide Cottage: Here's why
For the past three years, Prince William and Kate Middleton have lived with their kids at Adelaide Cottage, a quiet four-bedroom home on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It's smaller by royal standards and was never meant to be their long-term house. As per sources, the couple is thinking about moving to a larger place, according to a Daily Mail report. Prince William and Princess Kate may move from Adelaide Cottage to Fort Belvedere, a 59-acre estate with a pool and tennis court, as they look for more space.(AP) About Fort Belvedere One possible new home is Fort Belvedere, a historic Gothic-style mansion tucked inside Windsor Great Park. It was built in the 1700s and became a favorite of Edward VIII, who lived there before and after his short reign. He even signed his 1936 abdication papers at the property. Fort Belvedere sits on 59 acres and includes a pool and tennis court. Insiders say these are a big plus for Kate and Charlotte, who both enjoy tennis. The house also has a rose garden, walled and kitchen gardens, a greenhouse, stables, two lakes, paddocks, and staff cottages. Cannons from the Jacobite rising once lined the battlements. Also Read: Who will finally score Princess Diana's childhood home? It's neither Prince William nor Prince Harry Why are Prince William and Kate considering moving? A source told the Mail, 'They feel they have outgrown Adelaide Cottage and need somewhere more substantial.' Source added, 'This is the perfect new home for them. It has a swimming pool and tennis court, and Charlotte loves playing tennis.' Even though they're exploring their options, no move is happening yet. William and Kate, both 43, were once thought to be considering Royal Lodge, the large Windsor home where Prince Andrew lives. But Andrew has resisted pressure to move out. Another plan to move into a section of Windsor Castle also seems to be off the table. Prince William and Princess Kate left Kensington Palace in 2022 In 2022, the royal couple left Kensington Palace and moved to Adelaide Cottage along with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The cottage is close to Windsor Castle and a short drive from Lambrook School, where their children are enrolled. Their move came just weeks before the late Queen died at Balmoral. Adelaide Cottage also gave Kate a quiet place to recover during her cancer treatment last year. Now, the family is entering a new phase. They're looking at senior school options for George, with Eton, where tuition tops $81000 a year, said to be the leading choice. Privacy and a rural setting are important to William and Kate, and Fort Belvedere could offer both. Edward VIII once restored the house, which had been used as a summer tea house by Queen Victoria. He added the pool, tennis court, and a Turkish bath. After he left, it sat mostly empty until 1956, when Queen Elizabeth's cousin, Gerald Lascelles, moved in. The house once had 30 to 40 rooms, but it was downsized to eight bedrooms. In the 1980s, it was leased to Canadian billionaire Galen Weston and his wife Hilary. They added a polo stud and hosted events, including a birthday party for Hilary attended by the Queen, Prince Philip, and Princess Caroline of Monaco. Weston, who died in 2021, was worth an estimated $6.7 billion. His family still lives at the property, which is owned by the Crown Estate.
The Herald Scotland
19-07-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Was this the most chaotic Jacobite battle of them all?
But now historian Geoff Bailey has dug deep into a forgotten cache of letters and contemporary first-hand accounts to paint a fuller picture of the chaotic few hours in January 1746 when Falkirk became the stage a narrow Jacobite victory but which he regards as more of a 'no-score draw battle' in a three-part drama. The Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, led the 1745 Jacobite Rising The newly uncovered material has been included in an updated book which explores in meticulous detail the bloody and at times farcical clash between Jacobites loyal to Charles Edward Stuart and their foe, the British government troops led by Lieutenant General Henry Hawley. No mere skirmish, the clash of forces on the barren hill above the town was the largest confrontation between Jacobite supporters and Hanoverian Government troops - entertainment for thousands of 'fight fans' who had come to watch. Yet despite its scale and importance, there is little to show for it – just one small stone monument marks the area where, on a sleet-driven January day almost 280 years ago, thousands gathered to fight over Bonnie Prince Charlie's claim to the British throne. The Battle of Falkirk Muir monument (Image: © Copyright Euan Nelson and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence) Sandwiched between the last battle to be fought on English soil, in December 1745 Clifton Moor, near Preston, when Jacobite forces overwhelmed the Duke of Cumberland's troops, and the brutal bloodbath of Culloden, the Battle of Falkirk Muir played a key role in changing the course of Scottish history. For although considered to be a narrow victory for the Jacobites – even though they didn't realise it at the time - it also gave government troops the ideal opportunity to better understand their previously effective battle tactics. Having sussed out at Falkirk how to handle the so-called Highland Charge – the shock tactic of advancing, firing shots and then, in a maelstrom of shouts and cries, violently attacking with swords and dirks – the Government forces now had a vital advantage for their next confrontation, Culloden. The Jacobites, meanwhile, limped from the battlefield with little to show for their efforts other than 50 dead and 80 wounded. Their poor command and at times shambolic co-ordination of men had magnified fractures within their hierarchy. Soon there would squabbles, fall outs and Bonnie Prince Charlie would take to his sick bed. It set the scene, says Geoff, for the collapse that lay ahead. 'Prestonpans was a home victory, Culloden was an away victory for the Hanovarians,' he says. Henry Hawley led the Government forces at the Battle of Falkirk Muir (Image: Christian Friedrich Zincke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) 'Victory and major defeats tend to be what interests people. And Falkirk was more of a no score draw, which is why it tends to be overlooked. 'But,' he adds, 'it was a turning point. 'Two days after the battle, the Jacobites lost around 2000 men to desertion. 'They hadn't followed victory with victory, and people became more and more disillusioned. The saying 'to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory' could easily have been written for Falkirk'. Having studied the battle in depth for the first edition of his book, published 30 years ago, he was staggered to uncover previously unnoticed letters and accounts of events before and after the fighting tucked amid other material at the National Library of Scotland. Packed with detail and written by people who were there at the time, they have now been added to his new and updated version of his book, 'Falkirk or Paradise! The Battle of Falkirk Muir'. Among them is a letter written by a student of medicine, vividly describing efforts to save the lives of the dying and wounded. It offered insight not only into the heat of battle, but the excitement the prospect of bloody battle ignited among the general population, which saw thousands of thrill seekers make their way to Falkirk just to watch. After defeat at Culloden Bonnie Prince Charlie went into hiding before escaping to France 'He had come from Edinburgh to watch his friends fighting and writes about using the town's old grammar school as a makeshift hospital, with the teachers' desks used for surgery,' says Geoff. 'What makes it really interesting, is that his letters were written within a week of the battle, whereas most accounts were written by exiles – most of the Jacobite supporters end up in Italy, France and Holland - long after.' Remarkably, the medic was just one of around 3000 spectators who had travelled from around central Scotland just to watch the bloodshed. Their descent on the town, along with 8000 military men on either side, would have had a profound impact on Falkirk's local population of around 2,500 people, who found themselves and their food supplies overwhelmed. 'The carnival atmosphere that was developing in Falkirk was not to everyone's liking,' Geoff adds. 'Food prices continued to rocket as demand from the huge numbers of outsiders rose. 'The optimism of the government army and the host of visitors was not shared by the inhabitants who had just endured almost two weeks of occupation.' Read more: For locals, the day of battle on 17 January 1746 not only brought the chance to wrestle their town back from thousands of battle 'tourists' and Jacobite followers, but also to cash in. The aftermath of the fighting ignited scenes of looting from the dead and wounded and, later, remarkable entrepreneurship as locals sought to recoup some of their losses from the bloody events on their doorsteps. 'The local community was devastated, the Jacobites had been living off them for nearly three weeks, the spectators also needed feeding: it was a dreadful time for the local people,' says Geoff. 'But, there was a tourist trade as a result after it, and they were paid for showing people around the battle site.' Lochaber No More – Prince Charlie leaving Scotland', an 1863 painting by the artist John Blake MacDonald (Image: Public Domain) Those who chose to visit within hours of the fighting ending were met by a odd sight: from a distance, the battlefield that appeared to be covered with grazing, if a little static, sheep. 'As they got closer, they realised it was actually bodies that had been stripped bare overnight by the local people. All their clothes were stolen and the bodies had turned white because this was January and it was extremely cold. 'Folk took clothes, canons, weapons. 'One person was hauled up by the local church; he had gone to the battle site the day after and prised the horseshoes off the dead horses to reuse the iron. 'The problem for the church was not that he was stealing the iron, but because he did it on the Sabbath.' The battle itself was relatively brief and evolved almost into a comedy of errors, not helped when the powerful Jacobite-supporting MacDonald clan managed to get lost on the battlefield and miss a chunk of fighting. 'They were fighting along the ridge of a hill, went the wrong way and couldn't see where the battle was, so stood around chatting to each other,' says Geoff. 'To be fair, it was the 4th of January, there was heavy sleet, it was dark and there were hills all over the place. 'They also accidentally charged men on their own side and slaughtered them, including some presbyterian ministers.' Read more by Sandra Dick: The Hanoverian army, meanwhile, had camped on soggy ground to the south-west of the town, and rose to fight only to find their gunpowder damp from the sleet and tents sagging and sodden. But, adds Geoff: 'Everything that went wrong for the Hanoverians at Falkirk would then go wrong for the Jacobites at Culloden.' The Jacobite army deployed Highlanders at the front line and Lowland infantry in support at the second, intent on using their Highland Charge tactics to slaughter their foe. Bonnie Prince Charlie depicted leading his troops to battle at Culloden (Image: Archive) It would see the Government dragoons charge into Jacobite musket fire and then, in the chaos of smoke from their guns and the fearsome cries and yells of the shirtless clans, be met by long daggers and claymores thrust into the bellies of the government horses and their riders. Hawley's troops suffered large losses – not helped when horses churned up the soft ground, leaving rear guns stuck and unable to respond to the Jacobite pressure. But, says Geoff, events at Falkirk gave their commanders better understanding of Jacobite battle methods, so by the time Culloden came around, they knew precisely how best to respond. Back at Falkirk, as the weather worsened, chaos shifted to the town where locals, already fed up at the impact of finding themselves in the centre of a monumental clash, now found their narrow lanes and wynds consumed by street-by-street, hand-to-hand fighting that raged for hours. Within the town walls came high drama: Lord John Drummond, third in command of the Jacobites, rode his horse up the narrow Cow Wynd only to have it blasted from under him. Then, he took a bullet in the arm, and had to be dragged to safety. Government troops captured at Battle of Falkirk Muir were held at Castle of Doune near Stirling Later, a Hanoverian pistol retrieved by one excited Highlander would accidentally go off in his hands, fatally wounding Young Glengarry, commander of the MacDonell clan and leading to yet another rift among the Jacobite forces. It would be 7.30pm before Bonnie Prince Charlie was able to enter the town. Elements of the Battle of Falkirk Muir were almost too outlandish, says Geoff. 'There are things that, if you saw in a film, you'd say 'no way did that happen. But it did.' Such as the tale of Blind Jack, a drummer with the misnamed Yorkshire Blues who was taken prisoner by the Jacobites. Despite his disability, he still managed to foil his captors, break free and make his escape. Geoff Bailey's new book revisits the 1746 Battle of Falkirk Muir (Image: Geoff Bailey) One Jacobite was captured after mistaking Hanoverian lines for his own. Irritated that they were not behaving more aggressively towards the enemy, he demanded to know 'why aren't you chasing the bastards?'. Geoff says the reply was succinct: 'We are the bastards.' 'Falkirk or Paradise! The Battle of Falkirk Muir, 17 January 1746' will be launched at Falkirk Library on July 21. Proceeds from the book will support The Battle of Falkirk Muir (1746) Trust, which aims to swap its virtual museum and battle library for a custom-built museum in Falkirk telling the full story of the forgotten battle and the Jacobite Risings.
