Researchers at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have uncovered evidence indicating a possible assassination plot against Jacobite leader Charles Edward Stuart in 1746.
Known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, Stuart headed the Jacobite rebellion from the Scottish Highlands during the unsuccessful 1745 uprising against Hanoverian rule in Britain.
For generations, local accounts have suggested that after the Jacobites withdrew from England in December 1745, an attempt was made on Stuart’s life while he was staying at Bannockburn House near Stirling in January 1746.
Recent analysis using advanced X-ray technology now appears to provide physical evidence supporting this long-told story, giving new credibility to a legend preserved in local tradition.
Bonnie Prince Charlie failed in his bid to win back the throne, he is remembered as a tragic, romantic figure by poets
Archaeological visualization specialists have identified a misshapen lead projectile hidden inside the headboard of the room linked to the prince.
This striking find offers tangible evidence of a shooting that took place more than 270 years ago.
The discovery emerged from a collaborative project led by The Bannockburn House Trust, in partnership with Robert Gordon University, Johns Hopkins University in the United States, and Historic Environment Scotland.
For generations, local tradition has spoken of gunfire at Bannockburn House during the Jacobites’ failed siege of Stirling in January 1746. Now, advanced visualization technologies are beginning to uncover physical traces behind that long-told story.
The evidence suggests that more than one shot was fired. Last year, researchers identified a musket ball embedded in the wall of the same room, strengthening the case for a targeted attack.
These findings raise new questions about how many attackers may have been involved—and how the prince managed to survive. They have also renewed interest in long-standing stories about a secret escape tunnel leading away from the house, which may now warrant closer investigation.
There have, for centuries, been tall tales about a shooting at Bannockburn House (C) Bannockburn House Trust
Associate Professor Douglas Pritchard of Robert Gordon University, who oversaw the imaging work, explained that the research sheds new light on the Jacobite Rising and the risks faced by Bonnie Prince Charlie.
He noted that advanced 3D visualization methods make it possible to digitally preserve delicate objects and historic sites, producing detailed records that can be used for ongoing research and shared with the public.
By documenting these materials with precision, the team is both deepening historical understanding and ensuring the evidence is safeguarded for future study.
Researchers stress that the investigation is still underway and that the exact nature of the incident has yet to be firmly established. Further analysis and archaeological work are planned, with the next excavation scheduled to take place next month.
