Culloden myths are put to the sword

A new study, released ahead of the battle’s 266th anniversary on Monday, shows the vast majority of visitors to the National Trust for Scotland attraction arrive mistakenly believing the battle was between Scotland and England, or Highlanders and Lowlanders.

Others think Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart) was “some sort of Highland hero” and are unaware his aim was to take the British throne, restoring it to the House of Stuart. The true story, told at the centre, is putting them right.

Ronnie Cramond, former chairman of the Scottish Museums Council, said answers to the survey showed the centre was fulfilling its remit in educating visitors, and found it also highlighted gaps in teaching Scottish history in schools.

“The great majority interviewed knew very little about the Jacobites, Bonnie Prince Charles and Culloden,” Mr Cramond said. “I would also say that what they thought they knew was wrong.

“Some visitors didn’t know names of the key people involved and had no idea there was a religious perspective or that the ’45 had international and naval dimensions. They didn’t realise it was a civil war which pitched brother against brother, father against son.

“At one time, schools did not teach Scottish history and, while I’m told it is improving, the way they treat it now is wrong as it takes various themes such as Romans, Vikings and the two world wars, but there is no chronology, meaning pupils are not sure which era follows which.”

The survey involved 143 onsite interviews, conducted by Mr Cramond with the help of trust volunteers last year and in early 2012.

The £9.5 million Culloden Battlefield visitor centre was opened in April 2008 and aims to tell the story of the events leading to the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the battle itself and its aftermath.

The exhibition receives more than 100,000 visitors each year while the battlefield receives many thousands more.

Kate Mavor, the trust’s chief executive, said: “Culloden is a haunting place, with a terrible story to tell, one which is of such significance to many people from many nations. The trust has tried to bring the realities of this period to life for visitors, helping them to understand the true complexity of these often simplified events and their tragic consequences.

“Mr Cramond’s research confirms that we’ve managed to achieve this and that our visitors leave knowing more than when they arrived. For the trust, this is critical – we want every visitor to discover more by coming to the places in our care.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Learning about Scotland should be a natural and normal part of education for all our young people, and there are some excellent examples of this already happening.

“However, it should not be left to chance whether young people have the opportunity to learn about Scotland’s rich history, and the Scottish Government has been clear that strengthening learning about Scotland should be integral to Curriculum for Excellence.”