The Prince’s Army passes through Prestbury

Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the young Pretender, landed in the north of Scotland in 1745. With supporters, he marched to England, took Carlisle and proceeded through Preston to Manchester, which he reached on 28^th November. After remaining there for a few days, he continued to march towards London.

His army forded the Mersey in two divisions: one led by himself, at Stockport, proceeding through low-lying ground by Woodford and Prestbury: the other at Cheadle, proceeding through Wilmslow and Chorley and across Alderley Edge. The two divisions united before reaching Macclesfield on Sunday 1^st December. A few parties arrived later, including a division of horse commanded by Lord Elcho which had been quartered for a day at Prestbury.

Mr John Stafford, Town Clerk of Macclesfield, lived in what is now Cumberland House. This is what he saw:

“After about 4 or 5 Regiments had passed by us it was said the Prince was coming up. You may safely imagine we were all very attentive to see him, and it happen’d that a halt was made just opposite to my door for a minute or two, which gave us an opportunity of having a very full view of him. He was in Highland Dress with a blue waistcote trim’d with silver, and had a blue Highland cap on, and was surrounded by about 40 who appeared as his guard. He is a very handsome person of a man, rather tall, exactly proportioned, and walks very well – in my opinion not unlike Mr N. Wetenhall, but his face is not markt with the small pox.

He walked on foot from Manchester, as he had done, ‘tis said, all the way from Carlisle; and I believe they made their very best appearance into the Town, expecting to have been received as at Manchester; but there was a profound silence, and nothing to be seen in the countenances of the Inhabitants but horror and amazement.”

Cumberland House, Macclesfield

The Prince retreats

After remaining for a day at Macclesfield, the Prince continued his march via Leek, reaching Derby on 4^th December1745. He was persuaded to go no further and began to retreat, proceeding by the same route by which he had advanced. On 7^th December 1745 his army reached Macclesfield again, pursued by the Duke of Cumberland.

A letter by John Stafford briefly described the conduct of the Prince's army during the episode:

[14^th December, 1745.]

“Dear Sir-

I had answered your last letter sooner, but that from the 1st of this month till this very day (14^th) we have been in a continual hurry, the Rebells stayed two days here in their march, and two nights in their return. The officers for the most part behaved pretty well, but the common men like devils, especially in their retreat, for they not only lived upon free quarters in every house but pilfered and plundered people of their money, bedding, cloths and every thing they could carry off. But on Tuesday last (10^th) we were joyfully relieved by the arrival of the King’s forces and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland did me the honour of taking up his quarters at my house, where he lay three nights; and yesterday morning (13^th) went for Wigan. I followed the camp as far as the river Mersey, which the Duke forded about eleven o’clock at a place called Hollin Ferry (all the bridges on the river being broke down and the boats sunk). He shewed his officers the way over the river, which was very deep, but the bottom proved good. The general rendezvous was to be at Wigan last night, and I fancy this day the army will march towards Preston, where the rebels were yesterday morning, but greatly dispirited and quarreling amongst themselves, so that, according to my notion, the King’s forces (I mean the horse) have nothing to do but to get up with them and trample them under foot, for I think they will not fight.

My prating sister, for all her boasted courage, durst not stand her ground, but, as the rebels came into one end of the town she rode out of the other, and I have never seen or heard from her since.”

J.S.

The rebellion was finally defeated at Culloden on 17^th April 1746. Prestbury celebrated as soon as the news reached it and again on Thursday, 9^th October 1746 which had been appointed as a Day of Thanksgiving.

John Stafford’s letters were published first in the Macclesfield Courier and later in Volume I of J.P. Earwaker’s “East Cheshire” (1877).