By Dave Gudgeon

Published at 11:42, Thursday, 31 July 2008

THE new owner of an historic Cumbrian pub, which is due to reopen early next month, has spoken of his shock at discovering that 12 Scottish rebels lie buried in its back garden.

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The George and Dragon at Clifton, near Penrith, has been closed for several months while work is carried out ahead of its re-launch as a country pub-restaurant serving food from the Lowther Estate’s farms. It was bought earlier this year by the Lowthers, who have owned the surrounding country estate for centuries.

Like most local residents, they were aware that nearby Clifton Moor was the scene of the last battle to be fought on English soil when the Duke of Cumberland’s forces clashed with Bonnie Prince Charlie’s retreating Jacobite rebels on December 18, 1745.

But Charles Lowther, who is leading the George and Dragon renovation project, was stunned to discover the full extent of the pub’s association with the bloody skirmish all those years ago.

Charles, whose father was the 7th Earl of Lonsdale, said: “We’d heard there was a Rebel Tree in the pub's grounds but we had no idea there were 12 Scottish rebels buried underneath it!

“Our research into the Battle of Clifton Moor has shown that a dozen Highlanders, mainly Macphersons, were killed and were buried under this huge oak tree which stands behind the George and Dragon.”

The battle took place near Lowther Park and Lowther Hall, which remains the seat of the Lonsdale family today. There is a simple gravestone by the tree behind the George and Dragon with an inscription which reads: “Here lie buried the men of the army of Prince Charles who fell at Clifton Moor, 18 December 1745.”

A couple of years ago, a group of Scots also unveiled a plaque at the scene.

DGudgeon@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk