Historic Culloden relics-Cannonball & Jacobite Beakers-Secured for Nation
The National Trust for scotland (NTS) has acquired a cannonball and a set of engraved beakers directly linked to the 1746 Battle of Culloden, ensuring thes critically important artifacts will be preserved and displayed for the public. The items were purchased at auction with support from a generous donor and will ultimately become part of the permanent collection at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Center.
The acquisition represents a rare prospect to expand the narrative surrounding the Jacobite rising and the pivotal battle that extinguished it. The cannonball and beakers-featuring coats of arms and heraldic crests-will frist be exhibited at Montrose Museum as part of a display focused on Angus and the Jacobites before taking their place at Culloden in 2026.
NTS curator for the Highlands and Islands, rosalyn Goulding, described the auction as presenting an “exceptional opportunity” to enrich the visitor centreS holdings. “These pieces are very special and thanks to the support of a generous donor, we were able to secure them at auction and save them for the nation,” she said.
Currently undergoing preparation by specialists in Edinburgh, the artifacts promise to offer a more compelling and nuanced understanding of the battle and its context. Gail Cleaver, NTS operations manager, emphasized the impact of the acquisition: “These fantastic pieces with their incredible connection to the battle of Culloden will help us tell the story of Culloden in an even more compelling way.”
