Percy Cross

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Percy Cross
Percy's Cross - geograph.org.uk - 72368.jpg
Percy's Cross, northwest of Otterburn
Location Northumberland, England, UK
Coordinates 55°14′13″N2°11′41″W / 55.2370°N 2.1947°W / 55.2370; -2.1947 Coordinates: 55°14′13″N2°11′41″W / 55.2370°N 2.1947°W / 55.2370; -2.1947
OS grid reference NY8771793664
Northumberland UK location map.svg
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Location in Northumberland

The Percy Cross (also Battle Stone) is located just off the A696, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Otterburn, Northumberland, England. It was erected before 1400 to commemorate the Battle of Otterburn, which took place in 1388, and takes its name from Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland whose two sons took part in the battle. The memorial was restored and re-erected in 1777, and again in modern day, to include signage. [1] The Percy Cross is a sandstone memorial which includes a square stepped base, approximately 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in height and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in diameter. [2]

Otterburn, Northumberland village in Northumberland, England

Otterburn is a small village in Northumberland, England, 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Newcastle upon Tyne on the banks of the River Rede, near the confluence of the Otter Burn, from which the village derives its name. It lies within the Cheviot Hills about 16 miles (26 km) from the Scottish border. The parish of Otterburn is at the heart of Redesdale, a Northumbrian upland valley.

Northumberland County of England

Northumberland is a county in North East England. The northernmost county of England, it borders Cumbria to the west, County Durham and Tyne and Wear to the south and the Scottish Borders to the north. To the east is the North Sea coastline with a 64 miles (103 km) path. The county town is Alnwick, although the County council is based in Morpeth.

Battle of Otterburn

The Battle of Otterburn took place according to Scottish sources on 5 August 1388, or 19 August according to English sources, as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scots and English.

Contents

The entire battlefield area is designated an Area of High Landscape Value and parts of it are contained within the Northumberland National Park. On 7 January 1988, Percy Cross became a Grade II listed building. [3] [4]

Northumberland National Park national park

Northumberland National Park is the northernmost national park in England. It covers an area of more than 1,050 square kilometres (410 sq mi) between the Scottish border in the north to just south of Hadrian's Wall, and it is one of the least populated and least visited of the National Parks. The park lies entirely within Northumberland, covering about a quarter of the county.

Listed building Collection of protected architectural creations in the United Kingdom

A listed building, or listed structure, is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, Cadw in Wales, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in Northern Ireland.

History

In Armstrong's 1769 map of Northumberland, he marks the spot with a cross, called "Battle Stone". Another monument, now called Percy's Cross, was erected by Henry Ellison upon the spot where James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas is said to have fallen. [5]

James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas Scottish noble

Sir James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar was an influential and powerful magnate in the Kingdom of Scotland.

Battle Stone

The original stone measured 3 feet (0.91 m) in length and, by the later 18th century, rather than standing up, it lay in an oblique direction as it was too small for the socket or base in which it was placed. The top of the socket was exposed with stones around it. The spot where it stood was east from the present cross. [5]

Percy Cross

In 1777, Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland wanted to build on the spot some memorial of the battle that was associated with his family. But the proprietor of the land, Henry Ellison, fearing that Percy might attach some claim either to what was put up, or the ground on which it was to stand, declined the proposal, and resolved to erect one himself. Instead of re-building in the spot consecrated by the original stone, Ellison chose another site within view of the highway, so that what he built might be viewable by those who passed by the newly created turnpike road up Redesdale. It is said to have been raised at a "trifling expense". [5]

Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland English peer, landowner, and art patron

Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland,, was an English peer, landowner, and art patron.

Architecture

The monument is a circular pedestal of rough masonry, about 8 feet (2.4 m) in diameter at the bottom, and more than 5 feet (1.5 m) in height. It tapers to the top. The centre of it includes the old socket which belonged to the previous stone. An old architrave from the kitchen fireplace at Otterburn Hall was inserted into it. The cross section of this stone is 15.3 feet (4.7 m). It has a beveled corner along its length, and two small pieces of iron project from a side. On its top is another stone, tapering to a point. The socket is a worn, weather-beaten sandstone, about 2 feet (0.61 m) square and has the appearance of having been in use much longer than any of the other stones. [5]

Otterburn Hall

Otterburn Hall is an English country house and estate in Otterburn, Northumberland. It is situated in 500 acres (200 ha) of deer park and woodland in the Northumberland National Park, northeastern England. The building was constructed in 1870 for Lord James Douglas, the land given to him as recompense for the death of Lord James Douglas, who fought at the Battle of Otterburn, and was killed near Otterburn Tower, itself founded in 1086, and rebuilt in 1830. Both Otterburn Hall and Otterburn Castle have been seats of landed gentry.

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References

  1. ↑ Armstrong, Peter; Walsh, Stephen (28 March 2006). Otterburn 1388: Bloody Border Conflict. Osprey Publishing. pp. 93–. ISBN   978-1-84176-980-6 . Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  2. ↑ Usherwood, Paul; Beach, Jeremy; Morris, Catherine (2000). Public sculpture of North-East England. Liverpool University Press. pp. 44–. ISBN   978-0-85323-625-2.
  3. ↑ "The Percy Cross, Otterburn". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Battle of Otterburn". English Heritage. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 White, Robert (1857). History of the battle of Otterburn: fought in 1388 : with memoirs of the warriors who engaged in that memorable conflict (Public domain ed.). J.R. Smith. pp. xix–. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
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