© Copyright OliverDixon and licensed for reuse
under this Creative CommonsLicence.
The famous Duke
of Wellington was a regular visitor to the 3rd Marquess of
Londonderry’s Wynyard Hall. They’d been companions-in-arms during many a
military skirmish overseas during their younger days, and after the construction
of the latter’s magnificent new pile in the 1820s the duke regular popped in
for a cuppa and a chat.
In 1827, the
marquess was so overcome by his friendship with the great man during one
particular visit that he threw up a 127ft obelisk in his honour in the grounds
of Wynyard. Not only that, but the
family wing of the mansion itself was nicknamed the Duke’s Wing – and this side
of the house also held the Duke's Gallery, where the family kept their art
collection.
As for the mighty obelisk, illustrated
above, the inscription once read:
However, when, a few months later, Londonderry was not given a
place in prime minister Wellington ’s cabinet, the message was altered to, simply …
No comments:
Post a Comment