Percy's Cross

In Armstrong's 1769 map of Northumberland, he marked 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. The original stone measured 3 ft 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. In 1777, Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland wanted to build on the spot some memorial of the battle that was associated with his…

The monument is a circular pedestal of rough masonry, about 8 ft in diameter at the bottom, and more than 5 ft 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 ft. 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 ft square and has the appearance of having been in use much longer than any of the other stones.