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ALNWICK CASTLE FACTS
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Location
Alnwick, Northumberland
Description
Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England (after Windsor Castle). The Castle contains the finest collection of Italian paintings in the north of England and also one of the most important collections of Meissen porcelain in Britain.
Architecture
The castle is made up of two main rings of buildings. The main rooms are in the inner ring which surrounds a small courtyard. The outer ring forms a bailey around the central block. As the castle expanded a large number of buildings were built along the south wall of the bailey. The buildings along the south wall are connected to the central block by a link building. There are towers at regular intervals along the walls of the outer bailey. (These features can be clearly seen by zooming in on the Google Map satellite image below).
History
It has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when the baron of Alnwick built the earliest parts of the Castle.
Date
11th century
Notable Residents
Residence of the Duke of Northumberland
The Arts
Alnwick Castle has featured in numerous movies including: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1991), Monk Dawson (1998), Elizabeth (1998), Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2007). It has also been used in many TV series such as Blackadder (1983), Famous Five (1995-96), Ivanhoe (1997).
Other Castles in the Area
Bamburgh Castle
Chillingham Castle
Dunstanburgh Castle
Edlingham Castle
Etal Castle
Lindisfarne Castle
Warkworth Castle
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