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.
