Moray Moments: Lady Hill monument in Elgin
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Hazel Thomson, who sent in this photo, says: "I had a great view of The Duke of Gordon monument on Lady Hill yesterday morning. It had a lovely mist behind it as the sun was rising."
The 80ft A-listed monument overlooking Elgin was built in 1839 at a cost of £1240 to which Morayshire Farmers Club made a significant contribution.
Originally its column was topped by a lantern – a reference to the 'Lantern of the North' nickname for Elgin Cathedral
However this did not meet critical approval around the town, so the lantern was eventually replaced in 1855 with the statue of the Duke of Gordon.
George, the 5th Duke of Gordon, had been both a soldier and a politician.
Born into the nobility in 1770, George was educated at Eton and later took command of the newly created 92nd Highlanders regiment, who are usually called the Gordon Highlanders in honour of his family.
On October 2, 1799, he was wounded at the Battle of Alkmaar while fighting against France, which not long before had become a republic following its revolution.
For most of his early life, George was said to be in almost constant financial difficulties.
However, this situation was largely remedied by his marriage in 1813 to Elizabeth Brodie, who was 24 years his junior.
One commentator stated: "His bride was young and good, and rich, but neither clever nor handsome. She made him very happy and paid his most pressing debts."
George finally became the 5th Duke when his father passed away in 1827, but there would be no 6th.
His union with Elizabeth produced no children.
Therefore the dukedom became extinct when George died at the age of 66 in 1836.
However, another of his aristocratic titles – Marquessate of Huntly – passed to a distant cousin.
Meanwhile, the Gordon estates passed to his nephew, Charles Gordon-Lennox, the 5th Duke of Richmond.
For her part Elizabeth went on to be a founder of the Gordon Schools in Huntly and of the Gordon Chapel in Fochabers.
She left the Gordon 'moveable property' to the Brodies of Brodie.
George's statue on top of Lady Hill depicts him wearing the robes of office associated with his role as Chancellor of Marischall College in Aberdeen.
The monument's column is hollow and contains a spiral staircase which leads up to its top.
If you have any nice photos of Moray, its people, places or scenery, send them to newsdesk@northern-scot.co.uk
