The Battle

The Battle of Prestonpans was the first battle of the last Jacobite Rising. It took place on 20-21 September 1745. The Jacobite army led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) achieved a stunning and unexpectedly one-sided victory over the Government forces led by Sir John Cope.

The battle was fought in East Lothian, Scotland, between the communities of Prestonpans, Tranent, and Cockenzie. Although parts of the site have changed over the centuries, important areas of the battlefield have survived as open ground, and it remains possible to explore the landmarks and landscape features which determined the events of that dramatic morning.

The battle's legacy lives on in song, literature and art - and not least in the Prestonpans Tapestry. 

The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust is a registered Scottish charity committed to understanding and interpreting the battle and its legacy, and protecting the battlefield site. This website will help you discover the history, explore the historic landscape, and support our activities.

SC 302280 & Scottish Charity 037447