What should pupils know before they come?

It is helpful if pupils arrive at the site familiar with key people and the events leading up to the battle. Some suggestions are listed below. Further information may be found in our Resources section, supplementary to the many, widely available books on the subject.

Key People

• Prince Charles Edward Stuart and the Jacobite army
• Prince William, Duke of Cumberland and the Government army

There is a variety of names for the Government army, which can be known as the British, Hanoverian or Redcoat army. In the exhibition and on site, the army is referred to in general as the Government army.

Key Events

• The Jacobite goal
• The arrival of the Prince in Scotland
• The taking of Edinburgh and the battle of Prestonpans
• The march south to Derby
• The return to Scotland and the battle of Falkirk
• The arrival of Cumberland’s army in Scotland
• The Jacobite night march

You may wish to go into the events of the battle itself before your visit, as this makes the battlefield itself more meaningful and exciting for pupils (“this was where xxx actually happened”’). You may wish to use the visit as an opportunity for teaching about the events of the battle on site and tools such as the battle animation within the centre will help with this.

Key terms
It is also helpful if pupils are familiar with these terms before they arrive:

• Artillery
• Bayonet
• Broadsword
• Cavalry
• Clan
• Field gun
• Front line/second line (in military terms)
• Gaelic
• Grape shot
• Infantry
• Jacobite
• Musket
• Redcoat
• Regiment
• Targe/target

Pupils could assist with compiling a class dictionary explaining these terms.

Jacobite symbols
In the years before 1745, any signs of Jacobite allegiance were suppressed. Jacobites had to meet and plot in secret. Because of this, a number of secret Jacobite symbols emerged, which revealed to those ‘in the know’ who was on their side. Pupils may well enjoy cracking the code of Jacobite symbols, and spotting them on objects as they investigate the topic. Details of some of the most commonly found symbols may be found in the section Using the Visitor Centre.