Duke of Gordon's Monument facts for kids
The Duke of Gordon's Monument
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| Coordinates | 57°38′53″N 03°19′20″W / 57.64806°N 3.32222°W |
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| Location | Lady Hill, near Elgin |
| Designer | William Burn |
| Type | Tuscan column |
| Height | 80 ft, excluding the statue |
| Beginning date | 1838 (column built) |
| Completion date | 1855 (statue added) |
The Duke of Gordon's Monument is a tall and impressive structure located on Lady Hill, close to the town of Elgin in Scotland. This monument was built to honor George Gordon, who was the 5th Duke of Gordon. It looks like a classic Tuscan column, which is a type of ancient Roman pillar.
The monument stands about 80 feet (24 meters) tall, not including the statue on top. It is also about 6 feet 9 inches (2 meters) wide at its base. Inside the column, there's a spiral staircase. This staircase lets you climb all the way to the very top! The main column was put up in 1839. Later, in 1855, a statue of Duke George Gordon was added to the top.
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The Duke of Gordon's Monument
This monument is a special landmark. It is officially recognized as a Category A listed building. This means it's a building of great historical or architectural importance. It's like a protected piece of history in Scotland.
What is a Duke?
A Duke is a very high-ranking noble title, usually passed down through families. In the past, Dukes often had a lot of land and power. George Gordon was the 5th person in his family to hold the title of Duke of Gordon.
Building the Monument
The idea for the monument came from a famous architect named William Burn. He was from Edinburgh and designed many other important buildings and monuments. One of his other designs is the Melville Monument in St Andrews Square.
Design and Cost
The Duke of Gordon's Monument cost about £1,240 to build. This was a lot of money back then! The money came from a special fund and from the Morayshire Farmers Club. The actual construction was done by masons named Brander and Shand.
When it was first built, the monument had a lantern on top. But people didn't really like how it looked. So, it was later replaced with a statue.
The Statue on Top
The statue of Duke George Gordon was created by a sculptor named Thomas Goodwillie. This statue was placed on top of the monument in 1855. It shows Duke Gordon wearing special robes. These robes represent his important role as the Chancellor of Marischal College in Aberdeen. A Chancellor is like the head of a university.
