THE new owner of a pub which is due to reopen early next month after a major refurbishment has discovered that 12 Scottish rebels lie buried in its back garden.

The George and Dragon, at Clifton, has been closed for several months while work is carried out ahead of its relaunch as a country pub-restaurant.

It was bought earlier this year by the Lowther family, who have owned thesurrounding country estate as well as large areas of Cumbria for centuries.

Like most local residents, they were aware thatnearby Clifton Moor was the scene of the last battle to be fought on English soil when the Duke of Cumberland’s forces clashed with Bonnie Prince Charlie’s retreating Jacobite rebels on 18th December, 1745.

But Charles Lowther, who is leading the George and Dragon renovation project, admits he was stunned to discover the full extent of the pub’s association with the bloody skirmish 263 years ago. Charles, whose father was the Earl of Lonsdale, said: “We’d heard there was a Rebel Tree in the pub’s grounds but we had no idea there were 12 Scottish rebels buried underneath it.

“Our research into the Battle of Clifton Moor has shown that a dozen Highlanders, mainly Macphersons, were killed and that all were buried under this huge oak tree which still stands behind the George and Dragon.”

The battle took place near Lowther Park and Lowther Hall, which still remains the seat of the Lonsdale family today.

There is a simple grave by the tree behind the George and Dragon with an inscription which reads: “Here lie buried the men of the army of Prince Charles who fell at Clifton Moor 18 December 1745.” A couple of years ago, a group of Scots also unveiled a plaque at the scene.