Protecting The Battlesite
The extensive battlefield site underwent largescale development throughout the 20th century. Most of the landscape is now occupied by housing, roads and the M90 spur road, constructed in 1968.
A “Park and Ride” transport link is now proposed in the area that saw the main action during the battle. A couple of mass burial pits thought to have contained the remains of around 50 soldiers were found in the 1850s but the whereabouts of the rest of the dead are unknown.
The outcome of the archaeological dig will determine whether the new development can go ahead, and if so – in what form.
retreat, the Scots re-grouped near Pitreavie Castle. Battle was then joined and Cromwell’s New Model Army spent about two hours slaughtering the Scottish army.
“There are no reliable contemporary records for an accurate body count but it appears that between 1500 and 2000 Scottish soldiers died.”
Among the Scottish force were about 500 members of the Clan Maclean. All perished defending their clan chief, Hector, in vain.
One of the clan’s war cries, “Fear eile airson Eachuinn!” dates from this battle and translates as “Another for Hector!” It is claimed the Maclean clansmen shouted this one by one as they died in Pitreavie in defence of their chief.
Cromwell immediately made his mark after the battle. “He took control of Scotland. He billeted soldiers everywhere and as an occupying force, they weren’t very nice! They destroyed a lot of property, both deliberately and accidentally.”
Now, Douglas hopes his archaeological dig will bring more recognition to the losses, and impact, of the battle.
“Pitreavie, the huge loss of Scottish lives and the impact it had on the history of Scotland certainly deserves to be much better known than it is.”
“All perished defending their clan vain” chief in