Three hundred years ago people gathered in Preston to hear a Jacobean crier proclaim James III as King.

On Tuesday that moment was acted out once more on the City’s historic Flag Market as part of the events programme to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Preston.

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It was written in Peter Clarke’s Journal of Several Occurrences, that over several days prior to the battle: “The gentlemen soldiers found the ladies of Preston so very beautiful and so richly attired, that from the Wednesday to the Saturday they minded nothing but courting and feasting. Whilst at Preston there was a sound of revelry by night”. Thus, it appears that by day, everything was calm and not much fighting occurred between the Jacobites and government troops.

For more information on the 1715 events visit the Preston Guild City website here.

Did you go to the reenactment of the proclomation? Let us know in the comments below.