Battle of Harlaw Memorial Monument

Battle of Harlaw Memorial Monument

Location

1 Km west of Balhalgardy Farm, Inverurie on the south side of the un-classified road that runs east from the A96 to the B9001
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

OS Map Reference

NJ 752 241

Date

1911

Description

Erected in 1911 by the Burgh of Aberdeen a large polygonal tower shaped monument of coursed roughly dressed stone blocks with cornerstones in a contrasting redder stone. It has an outstepped base the angles of the main section are set with large square decorative bosses and it has a stepped top with protruding rainwater spouts. The lettering of the inscriptions in particular and the overall design in general has much of the 'arts and crafts' movement about it.

Related Information

Monument commemorating the Battle of Harlaw , 24th July 1411
The Battle of Harlaw was indecisive but, after it, the power of the Lord of the Isles began to decline, so it is often taken as a turning point in Highland history. The dispute was over the Earldom of Ross which covered a huge part of the Highland mainland.
The Lord of the Isles claimed it for his wife and The Duke of Albany, Governor of Scotland, concocted a rival claim for his son and intended to give him the land. In protest the Lord of the Isles gathered a Highland army to enforce his claim.
There were rumours that he also intended to show his power by robbing and destroying Aberdeen. So, his army was met by both men from the North East and some Aberdeen townsfolk. They fought for most of the day and then both sides withdrew because each thought it had lost. Afterwards, each claimed the victory!

Era

1900s

Related Artefacts

Categories

Creator

  • William Kelly, Architect

Photographer

  • Michael Watt

Unavailable Data

  • Information Source
  • Iconography
  • External Links

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