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I have a burning need to know stuff and I love asking awkward questions.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

My favourite places: Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in Alnwick, Northumberland, England. Yves de Vescy, Baron of Alnwick, erected the first parts of the castle in 1096. It was built to defend England's northern border against the Scottish invasions and border reivers and it has been owned by the Percy family, the Earls and later Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. The first Percy lord of Alnwick restored the castle and the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower survive from this period.

The 6th Earl of Northumberland carried out renovations in the 16th century. In the second half of the 18th century Robert Adam carried out many alterations. The interiors were largely in a Strawberry Hill gothic style which was not at all typical of his work, which was usually neoclassical. According to the official website a large amount of Adam's work survives, but little or none of it remains in the principal rooms shown to the public, which were redecorated in an opulent Italianate style in the Victorian era.

The castle consists of two main rings of buildings. The inner ring is set around a small courtyard and contains the principal rooms. This structure is at the centre of a large bailey. As the central block was not large enough to contain all the accommodations required in later centuries, a large range of buildings was constructed along the south wall of the bailey. These two main areas of accommodation are connected by a link building. There are towers at regular intervals along the walls of the outer bailey. About a sixth of the bailey wall has been reduced almost to ground level on the bailey side to open up views into the park. Stable and service yards adjoin the castle outside the bailey; these would not have existed when the castle still had a military function.

The castle is in good repair and used for many purposes. It provides a home for the present Duke and family and offices for Northumberland Estates, which manages the Duke's extensive farming and property holdings.

The castle is used as a stand in for the exterior of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films (though the wide angle images are computer generated). It has previously been a location used in Blackadder I, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

[The above from Wikipedia].

This is a wonderfully complete castle - rather than the usual ruins - and certainly feels just a like a castle ‘should’ in your imagination. I’ve been there a few times whilst visiting friends in the North and we had lots of fun just wandering around the huge grounds and hallways litered with ancient artifacts and works of art. It’s a superb place to visit – and not only if you’re a Harry Potter fan! If you like castles (and what’s not to like) you’ll love Alnwick – pronounced ‘Ann-ick’ by the way [grin].

8 comments:

dbackdad said...

Very cool. Add another stop to my already overplanned, underfunded, eventual UK trip. [sigh]

Scott said...

Are all of the Castles in England pretty much just tourist attractions now, or are any of them inhabited?

P.s. I didn't even know you were in the UK until three posts a go. I need to pay attention better.

CyberKitten said...

scott asked: Are all of the Castles in England pretty much just tourist attractions now, or are any of them inhabited?

As far as I know the majority of castles are ruins - for obvious reasons - but there are still a fair few that have full time inhabitants, though they are normally tourist traps too as it helps with the upkeep.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

This looks so wonderful CK! It is certainly in good shape, isn't it?
Whenever I read of the years that things were built in the UK or anywhere in Europe for that matter, it just amazes me. Especially, living in a city where the oldest buildings (and they are few and far between) are maybe 200 years old....if that! We live in a tear down nation. It's really sickening.t's true there are now some Historical Preservation Societies but....too little too late for so much history here.

Juggling Mother said...

I can certainly think of a few famous castles & stately homes that are still domiciles: Windsor (and all the royal castles), Berkeley, Longleat, Woburn Abbey, Balgonie, Beaulieu, Farnborough Hall, Blair (still has a private army and so is the only "fortified" castle still in existance), Blenheim, Invarary (the most fairy tale medieval castle I have seen), Ragley Hall, and Knebworth are all examples I can think of off the top of my head, although many many Scottish castles are still used as homes.

Most do double up as tourist attractions/museums/hotels etc nowadays. Something to do with the cost of keeping them maintained & staffed, and the shocking expectation of the plebs to be paid a decent wage & have some free time occasionally!

CyberKitten said...

Naomi said: Whenever I read of the years that things were built in the UK or anywhere in Europe for that matter, it just amazes me.

I remember chatting to an American tourist in Italy who looked rather depressed at just how old everything was. He was particularly struck by an obelisk in Rome. It had been stolen from Egypt over 2000 years ago... but by then it was already 3000 years old! Compared to the USA that's OLD! I felt sorry for the poor man - overwhelmed by History...

Juggling Mother said...

I rather untactfully burst out laughing when an American i met in Ireland proudly told me he owned a "very old house - almost 100 years old"

But if you go off to places like Egypt, Israel, Turkey (or, I expect, China) you start to realise that all our medieval stuff is pretty rubbish too, in the grand scheme of things.

Of course, we DO have stonehenge;-)

Scott said...

I just want to chime in to say "domicile" is a very under used and under appreciated word in general.

Thanks Juggling Mother!

Oh, and Americans are a funny sort, aren't they? lol, lol