 Dominating the market town the 11th Century castle
has been much added to by successive generations of the Percy family, Dukes of
Northumberland. The castle has
remained the principal seat of the dukedom since 1309. The Percy family was engaged
in incessant warfare with the Scots. The shell keep was begun in 1096 by the
Normans.
On acquiring the castle and barony in 1309
Henry Percy rebuilt the keep in the form of seven semi-circular towers around the
courtyard. He also added the outer gateway and curtain walling. The impressive
barbican and gatehouse were added around 1440. However, the full-length stone
figures were only installed on top of the gatehouse in 1764 by the 1st Duke.
After many years of neglect, on inheriting
the castle in 1750 the 1st Duke summoned Robert Adam and renovation of the castle
began. This work continued until 1766 and created a magnificent ducal residence in
the fashionable 'Gothic' style. To make the castle more imposing the 4th Duke built
the great Prudhoe Tower in 1854.
The castle overlooks landscape designed by
Capability Brown. The castle interior has been furnished in palatial Italian
Renaissance style and has a collection of Meissen china and paintings by Titian, Van Dyck
and Canaletto. The Postern Tower contains a collection of early Roman and British
relics. |
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Alnwick
Castle
