Alnwick Castle

Dominating the market town the 11th Century Alnwick 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.