Scotland would be transformed from the unwilling junior partner in the Union of l707 to a vibrant intellectual and financial force in the thriving concern that was the New Britain. This new Britain was being built around money, not God. Bestriding this world of vast fortunes, unprecedented economic growth and huge country estates was the colossal figure of Robert Walpole, in effect Britain's first prime minister and a man who believed in sound political management and a healthy business environment, not dogma or fanaticism. He rewarded himself by building Houghton Hall, one of the grandest country houses in England. Consumer Britain was born.
Relics still exist of the keepsakes left by mothers for the babies they gave up.
The rebellion failed to gain enough support and despite reaching Derby his army retreated to Scotland where they finally faced a terrible defeat at Culloden. But the defeat marked a sea-change in Scotland's fortunes. The dreams of the Jacobites were replaced by an appetite for hard facts and hard cash. Then in 1776 Adam Smith in his revolutionary book Wealth of Nations provided the vision to show Britannia the way ahead. Follow the journey of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 rebellion.