Scottish prisoners from Battle of Dunbar died in Durham

Megan Olshefski has devoted years researching the story of those young Scots taken captive by Oliver Cromwell’s troops after the Battle of Dunbar, in September 1650.

She will next week pay personal homage to the many Scottish prisoners-of-war, who survived the battle but, after a forced march, southwards, went on to meet their death in captivity in the makeshift prison in Durham.

Approximately 4,000 captives, judged a viable threat to Cromwell’s victorious army, were marched across the border at Berwick and then on to Belford in Northumberland.

Read more: Watch: Moving reburial service for 17th Century Scottish prisoners of war

The onward journey took them to Alnwick and after days without food they ate cabbages and root vegetables on arrival within walled gardens at Morpeth.

They continued to Newcastle Cathedral but only about 3,000 were eventually herded into their final destination in Durham.

Under lock and key, they faced months of squalor and disease with the last of the prisoners leaving the cathedral in July 1652.

Inmates slept cheek by jowl and had no protection from an outbreak of dysentery.

Coupled with starvation, hypothermia and violent squabbles over clothes and possessions, only 1,600 survived.

Ms Olshefski, a 29-year-old history graduate, is now studying for a doctorate at Durham University’s Department of Archaeology, and is nearing completion of her research into the captives’ struggle for life.

For some, eventual freedom only followed a period of forced labour in the American Colonies.

Read more: Face of Scottish soldier found in mass grave in Durham revealed

She will set out on September 3, the 373rd anniversary of the battle, to walk the same 100-mile route as the battle-weary prisoners.

“I plan, where possible, to spend each night on the site of each stop-over and follow a traditional 17th century Scottish diet of the period, which includes oats, peas, fish, brassica and kale,” said Ms Olshefski, whose mother’s family can trace their roots back to Scotland.

“Conditions in the cathedral were truly horrific for captives whose average ages ranged from just 15 to their mid-20s.

“They used the east end of the cathedral as a toilet and slept when and where they could in the west end because of the chronic lack of floor space.

“My intention in making this trip is to honour all those involved, particularly the ones who did not survive,” she said.

Ms Olshefski’s first introduction to the prisoners’ story was as a young graduate working as a researcher and producer on the American equivalent of the British television programme “Who Do You Think You Are?”  

One episode focused on James Adams, one of 150 randomly selected prisoners shipped from London to New England.

As part of her research she has taken part in archaeological digs and surveys on the sites of the early homesteads and places of labour of the 150.

She plans to publish a book as well as record a video of her pilgrimage along the route of the walk.

“Records examined by the American programme researchers confirmed the names of all those who sailed to Boston and were indentured at the ironworks, a key link to descendants tracing their family tree, starting with the Unity, the ship which brought the prisoners across the Atlantic.

Research into this poignant piece of history has been keenly followed by tens of thousands of Americans, fiercely proud of their Scottish heritage.

In some cases they plan to relive their ancestors’ story by coming to the UK and visiting Scotland and the North East.

The cathedral’s dead were buried in a mass grave now under the buildings of Palace Green and the buildings within the surrounding area.

The major new find of the mass grave was made during work on a new cathedral café in 2013.

Read next:

Historians trace fate of survivors of Scottish soldiers held prisoner in Durham Cathedral

What fate for Durham's Scottish soldiers?

Durham Cathedral tribute to Dunbar Martyrs

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Despite the large number of deaths, it has been possible to recover only 28 incomplete skeletons.

Ms Olshefski’s journey will end at Durham Cathedral’s North Door on the afternoon of Saturday September 9.

She will be met by a welcoming party, which will include Durham’s Mayor, councillor Lesley Mavin, the cathedral’s Canon, the Reverend Michael Everett and representatives of the Rotary Club of Durham who, along with Ms Olshefski's college and a trust set up by the university’s renowned archaeologist, Dame Rosemary Cramp, have supported the academic adventure.