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Hotspur Tower
Alnwick castle from the river
Alnwick castle from the Lion bridge
Alnwick castle from the river
Alnwick castle from the bridge
Alnwick castle from the river
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
The Keep
AThe Keep

Alnwick Castle was the stronghold of the Percy family, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. Throughout the Middle Ages the owners of Alnwick occupied an uneasy political position; nominally subjects of the English King and committed to defending the border against the Scots, they often allied themselves with the Scottish Kings if the occasion suited them. The main part of the castle belongs to the 14thC and the period of the first two Percy lords.

Recent additions to what's on offer within the grounds are The Alnwick Garden opened to the public in October 2002 and The Treehouse opened December 2004.

When entering the town of Alnwick from the South you pass through a narrow medieval arch, Hotspur Tower. On the right is the White Swan Hotel where some of the rooms are outfitted from the R.M.S. Olympic, the sister ship of the R.M.S. Titanic and the lesser known R.M.S. Brittannic. If travelling from the North the castle appears all-powerful and brooding. Crossing the River Aln over the Lion Bridge up a steep hill you are soon confronted by the great barbican guarding the gateway to the Castle. Below and around the castle are grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, who began his professional career at Wallington Hall as a gardener. He was born in the hamlet of Kirkharle close by Wallington in 1716. Further inland along the River Aln there are some wonderful woodland walks in Hulne Park, with Brizlee Tower and the ruins of Hulne Priory.

Many movies have been filmed in the area, most recently Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone where the castle and its grounds became Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The grounds also plays host to some 'Living History' re-enactment events such as The 68th Durham Light Infantry Display Team which represent the 68th DLI during the Napoleonic Campaign. The county of Northumberland offers a wide variety of landscapes from the East Coast to the Cheviot Hills.

A Visitors Book is available if you would like to make any comments or requests.

The following pages were designed by MIRROR IMAGE. All photographs taken by Ray Urwin©.
For more information please contact mirrorimage@northumbria.info