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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Alnwick Castle
Castle
Castle
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Alnwick Castle

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 County

Northumberland (15 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Baronial castle

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

A fantastic castle to visit. At the entrance is the huge tree-house and extensive gardens; the central feature being the waterfall. For the kids there is a water-park so take a change of clothes. The castle is complete and a tour of the state appartments can be made.

 Location55.4169,-1.7062 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Northumberland (15 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Baronial castle

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

A fantastic castle to visit. At the entrance is the huge tree-house and extensive gardens; the central feature being the waterfall. For the kids there is a water-park so take a change of clothes. The castle is complete and a tour of the state appartments can be made.

 Location
55.4169,-1.7062
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
lnwick Castle in Northumberland started its life as a motte and bailey style fort that was built just after the Norman Conquest by Gilbert Tyson a supporteer of William the Conqueror who may reused the site of an earlier Saxon fortification. The castle passed into the hands of Ivo de Vesci in 1096 through the marriage of Gilbert's grandaughter. Ivo de Vesci constructed a shell keep on top of the motte and laid out the two baileys to the east and west. In 1138 the castle passed into the hands of Eustace fitz John who married the only daughter of Ivo de Vesci. Under the control of Eustace and later his son William the castle's fortifications were improved to such an extent that it survived an attack by William the Lion, King of Scotland in 1172. When the Scottish king again attacked the castle in 1174 he was captured by the English and later signed a treaty to regain his freedom.

In 1309 Alnwick Castle was purchased by Sir Henry de Percy from Anthony Bek, the Bishop of Durham. Henry was already a wealthy landowner in Yorkshire and the addition of the estates in Northumberland made his family one of the most important in England. The Percy family were involved in incessant wars with the Scots. A large amount of rebuilding work then took place under the direction of Henry and his son, including the keep with seven sem-circular towers enclosing a small court. New gatehouses to protect the entrances and several towers around the two outer baileys were also constructed.

In 1433/4 King Henry VI granted the town of Alnwick a licence to be enclosed in a wall to help protect it from attack by the Scots. But raising funds to pay for the work proved difficult and it took many years before it was complete. Finally the wall was completed and was protected by four gates, Bondgate, Clayport, Pottergate and Narrowgate. Bondgate is the only gate that remains.

In the middle of the nineteenth century Alnwick Castle was extensively restored under the direction of two architects, Luigi Canina and Anthony Salvin. Salvin was responsible for the restoration of many castles including Warwick Castle. The exterior of the castle was skillfully restored without changing it too much while the interior was completely remodelled.

Alnwick Castle was used as a location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Location

See Also

People

  • John (of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • Alnwick Abbey
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)

Wars of the Roses Phase Three (click here)

Timeline

1093

November 13

Battle of Alnwick

Malcolm III, the king of Scotland, and his son Edward were both killed at the battle of Alnwick in Northumberland. Malcolm had invaded England after William II had made moves to take more control over Cumbria and had fortified Carlisle.

1093

November 13

Donald Bane becomes king of Scotland

After Malcolm III and his eldest son Edward by his second marriage were killed near Alnwick Donald, Malcolm's brother, became the king of Scotland. Malcolm's family were forced into exiled in England. Malcolm had another son, Duncan, by his first wife. But Duncan was being held hostage at the court of William Rufus.

1096

...

Building work on Alnwick castle begins

Building work on Alnwick castle began.

1147

...

Alnwick Abbey founded

Alnwick Abbey was founded by Eustace fitz John, the owner of Alnwick Castle.

1174

June 13

The Battle of Alnwick

William I, king of Scotland invaded England to help fight in the baronial rebellion against Henry II. The Scottish King attacked the castle at Prudhoe but was unable to capture it. William was captured at the Battle of Alnwick and the rebellion came to an end. He was transported to Falaise in Normandy where he would later sign a peace treaty.

1174

December 8

William I of Scotland signs Treaty of Falaise

Captured by the English, William I of Scotland was forced to sign the Treaty of Falaise. The treaty made Scotland a feudal possession of England and William and his nobles swore fealty to Henry II. William had to hand over several castles to the English in return for his freedom. One of these was Stirling Castle.This treaty was overruled by King Richard I in return for funds paid by Scotland that Richard needed for his crusade in 1189. ¹

1462

October 25

Queen Margaret invades

Queen Margaret landed near Bamburgh Castle on the Northumbrian coast with a small army. The main castles in the area, Alnwick, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh surrendered to the Queen. ¹

1462

December

Yorkists take back control of Northumbrian castles

The Earl of Warwick was put in charge of capturing the castles from the Lancastrian garrisons. Edward had to stay at Durham to recover from a bout of the measles. The castles were not attacked but cut off from supplies to starve the soldiers out. Just before the new year the Lancastrian soldiers surrendered and the Yorkists took control of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh Castles. Warwick used the castle at Warkworth as his base while he monitored the sieges at the other castles. The seige of Alnwick Castle continued into January. ¹

1463

January 6

Alnwick Castle surrenders to the Yorkists

The Lancastrians inside Alnwick Castle were short of supplies so an army from Scotland under the control of George Douglas, the 4th Earl of Angus marched down to assist. When the Scottish army arrived at the castle, the Yorkists who were beseiging the castle withdrew allowing many of those inside to escape. Douglas did not attack the Yorkists but turned with the rescued men back to Scotland. The Yorkists returned to the castle and those Lancastrians that had not been able to escape surrendered. ¹

1463

March

Northumbrian castles fall to Lancastrians

Sir Ralph Percy, the constable in charge of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles, defected and allowed the Lancastrians to take control. Alnwick Castle fell to the Lancastrians shortly afterwards.

1463

May

Alnwick Castle in Lancastrian hands

Alnwick Castle was captured by the Lancastrians. ¹

1464

June 23

Alnwick Castle Surrenders to Warwick

After the Lancastrians were defeated at the Battle of Hexham their power in Northumberland was at an end. The Earl of Warwick accepted the surrender of Alnwick Castle on June the 23rd. Dunstanburgh Castle surrendered shortly afterwards. The siege at Bamburgh Castle was brought to an end with the use of cannons, the first castle to fall in such a way. ¹

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland, 1978, ISBN:0-7139-1206-5
  • 2. Peter Potter, Data Donation
  • 3. Anthony Goodman, The Wars of the Roses, ISBN:0-88029-484-1
  • 4. H.T. Evans, Wales and the Ware of the Roses, ISBN:ISBN-0-905-778-278

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • John (of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • Alnwick Abbey
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

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