The Battle of Dunbar was fought - On this day in history

The Battle of Dunbar was fought on 3 September 1650, with the defeat of Covenanter forces by the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell.

Despite having forces of similar numbers (around 12,000 men each), the Scottish Covenanters, under the leadership of David Leslie, were defeated after attacking Cromwell's men and becoming mired in the mud. After the battle, Cromwell claimed that 3,000 Scots had been killed, whilst a Scottish officer named Balfour put the number closer to 800.

The Scottish prisoners captured at Dunbar were taken south to England, with thousands dying en route, and most of the remaining 1,400 men eventually being sent to the New World.

The site of the Battle of Dunbar, where a previous battle was also fought in 1296, has been granted protected status by Historic Scotland.