AN ESTEEMED historian has left over £1 million in his will to protect Culloden Battlefield.
Professor Christopher Duffy, who died in 2022 aged 86, gave the money to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) to safeguard the historic site.
Considered an authority on the Battle of Culloden – with several books written on the topic – Duffy’s knowledge of the site informed many campaigns against development within the historical boundary of the battlefield.
The historic battle took place on April 16, 1746, at Culloden, near Inverness, where a Jacobite army loyal to Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland.
Around 1600 men died at the battle, 1500 of them Jacobites, which led to the ending of the Jacobite rising of 1745.
The royalties from the sale of his books will also go to the NTS to benefit Culloden into the future.
Ali MacLeod, NTS’s head of fundraising and philanthropy, said: “Through his academic brilliance, generous collaboration and philanthropic support for Culloden 300 and Culloden Fighting Fund, in his lifetime Prof Duffy made an extraordinary and lasting impact on how we understand, interpret and protect Culloden.
“By leaving the royalties from his books and a remarkably generous legacy, he ensured that his life’s work and passion will continue to shape the future. His foresight and his gift will play a vital role in helping the charity safeguard Culloden for generations to come.”
Gail Cleaver, the trust’s operations manager for Culloden, added: “We are deeply grateful that Christopher continued his lifetime of support by leaving a gift for the National Trust for Scotland’s work at Culloden in his will.
“His generosity will help us ensure that this place, which he knew so much about and cared for so deeply, will be protected now and for the future, and that the stories, which incredibly are still emerging from this momentous historical event, will be shared.”
