NEWSFLASH: 12 November 1715 – Major-General Wills and his troops leave Wigan early in the morning and advance to Preston. His soldiers are the infantry regiment of Brigadier Preston, and the dragoon regiments of Major-General Wynn, and of Brigadiers regiment of Colonel Pitt.
Advertisement11.00am: Major-General Wills arrives at Walton-le-Dale. Derwentwater orders 300 horsemen to Ribble bridge, Walton-le-Dale, but, an hour later, he orders them to retreat into Preston.
Wills is ‘amazed’ to find the bridge undefended and he crosses the river unopposed. He advances up the hill to Preston by 1.00pm
2.00pm: A detachment of 200 Government troops drives rebels from the lower barricade in Church Street. However, raking fire from rebels in Church Street forces troops to retreat. About 120 Government soldiers killed in about 10 minutes.
3.00pm: Another detachment of Will’s troops arrive near the Fishergate barricade.
4.00pm: 300 Government troop detachments advance up narrow weinds behind houses. They capture two large houses: Sir Henry Hoghton’s and Mr Ayres’s. Highlanders kill a captain and about 140 soldiers. Government soldiers begin to set fire to houses.
Attack on Friargate windmill barricade begins. Houses set on fire after Highlanders repel Government troops.
Dusk and night: Hostilities cease except for a few shots. Candles lit in windows to show houses taken, but Jacobites also light candles in windows. Both sides amused by confusion.
Fishergate barricade is not blocked by General Wills. Many of Derwentwater’s men escape by Fishergate.
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.