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Open Country: The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

26/10/2017

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

Helen Mark asks why the largest battle fought on Scottish soil has been largely forgotten.

The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was fought in 1547 between the English and the Scots. Helen Mark asks why it has been largely forgotten and sees it brought back to life in East Lothian.

How do you keep history alive? It's claimed the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh - fought in 1547 between the Scots and the English - has largely been forgotten despite being the largest Battle fought on Scottish soil. Helen Mark travels to Musselburgh in East Lothian to see re-enactors gather from across the UK to live as the forces did and fight to the (acted) death to remember the battle in front of an audience. The current Duke of Somerset - who descends from the leader of the English troops braves a return to Scotland to see the event. The areas on which the original battle was fought may not give many clues if it were not for the efforts of the Battlefield Group who fight to protect sites like this and mark their significance in our history.

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