This blue plaque commemorates the presence of Charles Edward Stuart, often known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, in Manchester during November 1745. The plaque marks the location that served as a gun park for his Jacobite forces. Charles Edward Stuart was a claimant to the British throne, and the plaque highlights a moment in his campaign to restore the Stuart dynasty. His bid for power culminated in the 1745 rising, an attempt to reclaim the crown for his family. Although born in Rome, he led this significant but ultimately unsuccessful military effort.

The memorial recalls a specific episode during the Jacobite Rising of 1745, a major event in British history. This rebellion aimed to reinstate the Stuart monarchy, an ambition that had been a source of conflict for decades. The movement, which saw Charles Edward Stuart as a central figure, gained momentum in parts of Scotland before advancing into England. The use of a site in Manchester as a gun park signifies the furthest reach of his campaign into English territory before the subsequent retreat and eventual defeat. Such plaques contribute to a wider understanding of regional involvement in national historical events.

The plaque is situated on Byrom Street in Manchester, marking a site that was historically significant during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Visitors can easily access the city centre location to view this historical marker. As a blue plaque, it is mounted on an external wall, indicating a building associated with Charles Edward Stuart's forces. Respectful viewing from the public thoroughfare is encouraged, allowing for reflection on this moment in Manchester's past.

Charles Edward Stuart, known universally as Bonnie Prince Charlie to many who remember his story, was the Stuart claimant to the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones in the mid-18th century. He is widely remembered for his leadership of the ill-fated Jacobite Rising of 1745, an audacious attempt to reinstate the Stuart dynasty. Born in Rome into an exiled royal court, he spent significant periods of his life in Italy.

His journey to Scotland in 1745, following a failed French invasion plan, ignited the 1745 rising. His forces secured notable early successes, including at Prestonpans and Falkirk Muir, before their decisive defeat at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. This marked the effective end of the Stuart claim. Charles spent his remaining years in Europe, having been unable to achieve his ambition of restoring his family to the throne.

Charles Edward Stuart

Nearby locations in Manchester