Trust agrees deal to purchase historic Scottish headquarters of Bonnie Prince Charlie

Bannockburn House, which was built in the 17th century, has been said by some to retain the haunting presence of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Prince Charles Edward Stuart, (31 December 1720 – 31 January 1788) The Young Pretender, affectionately known as Bonnie Prince Charlie was the grandson of James VII of Scotland and had led the second Jacobite Uprising of 1745 to overthrow King George II. He spent time in Bannockburn House, near Stirling, in 1745 when gathering support for the Jacobite cause. Then in January 1746 he made the three-storey house his headquarters ­ahead of his defeat at Culloden and stayed there in April that year before going into exile.

Now Bannockburn House near Stirling, which had been on sale for £1.5  has been removed from the market and offered for £800,000 to a community trust set up to preserve the historic property. The Bannockburn House Trust is working with the Scottish Land Fund to secure a grant to help buy the building from the owner. A further amount will be raised through an ongoing fund raising campaign, with will also be used to repair and maintain the home. The trust has plans to redevelop the building and its 25 acres of surrounding land for community use. Dr David Mitchell, Director of Conservation at Historic Environment Scotland, has described Bannockburn House as a remarkable property of national significance.