NEWSFLASH: 11 November 1715 – Major-General Wills, the Government Army commander, leaves Manchester for Wigan.

7.00pm:  The Earl of Derwentwater is told that Major-General Wills is to march from Wigan to Preston with 7 regiments. He does not defend the Ribble bridge, at Walton-le-Dale, relying instead on the barricades for defence.

Henry Fishwick, F.S.A. writes in his ‘History of the Parish of Preston’…

“As this army was something like 4,000 men, the town was in no position to oppose its advance even had it been inclined to do so, and consequently many of the inhabitants fled taking with them what they considered most valuable : the vicar of Preston (Rev. Samuel Peploe), had the courage to read the prayers for the Brunswick family in the parish church whilst the invaders occupied the town”.

We are indebted to Aidan Turner-Bishop of the Preston Historical Society, for his assistance in providing the timeline of events during the 1715 uprising and battle.

There will be further bulletins of the 1715 Battle of Preston timeline of events on Blog Preston, coming very soon.

List of 1715 related events taking place in Preston.

Are you involved in the commemoration of the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion? Let us know in the comments below.