Tenantry Column

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The Tenantry Column, Alnwick

The Tenantry Column is a monument to the south of Alnwick town centre, in Northumberland, England.

The Greek Doric order^[1] column is 83 feet tall and topped by the Percy Lion, symbol of the Percy family. It was designed by the Newcastle architect David Stephenson and erected as thanks to the second Duke of Northumberland, by tenants of the Duke in 1816, following a reduction by the Duke in their rents.^[2] This is some 24 years before Nelson's Column was erected.

Anecdotal history suggests there is slightly more to the story of the column; local website www.rothbury.com sums matters up thus:

During the 19th century local farmers profited, very nicely thank you, from the high cost of goods sold to support the war with France. The Duke, reviewing his rents, as one does, saw fit to suggest a small increase; double or possibly quadruple. And everyone was happy.

Unfortunately when peace broke out, reduced prices in the market place created a cash flow problem and farmers were unable to meet the vastly increased rents. They commented on this to the Duke who reduced the rents accordingly.

The tenants in their turn, felt beholden to such generosity and erected a column, topped by the Percy Lion to express their gratitude to the Duke.

The Duke in his turn decided that if the tenantry could afford such an edifice then they could afford the rents which were promptly raised again. The cost of this edifice was such that with the re-imposed rental increase farmers were unable to survive and promptly went into bankruptcy. But the subscriptions were insufficient to complete the monument and the Duke was forced to finish it himself. Noblesse Oblige. Also interesting as it is reported that the Duke died before its completion.

Buried in a cavity in the foundations is the regimental roll of the late Percy Tenantry volunteers, written on vellum and sealed in a glass tube.^[2]