History Alnwick Castle

isometric view of alnwick castle, 1866



alnwick castle, chromolithograph alexander francis lydon, 1870

alnwick castle guards road crossing river aln. yves de vescy, baron of alnwick, erected first parts of castle in 1096. beatrix de vesci, daughter of yves de vescy married eustace fitz john, constable of chestershire , knaresborough. marriage beatrix de vesci gained baronies of malton , alnwick. castle first mentioned in 1136 when captured king david of scotland. @ point described strong . besieged in 1172 , again in 1174 william lion, king of scotland , william captured outside walls during battle of alnwick. eustace de vesci, lord of alnwick, accused of plotting robert fitzwalter against king john in 1212. in response, john ordered demolition of alnwick castle , baynard s castle (the latter fitzwalter s stronghold); however, instructions not carried out @ alnwick.

the castle had been founded in late 11th century ivo de vesci, norman nobleman vassy, calvados in normandy. descendent of ivo de vesci, john de vesci succeeded father s titles , estates upon father s death in gascony in 1253. these included barony of alnwick , large property in northumberland , considerable estates in yorkshire, including malton. due being under age, king henry iii of england conferred wardship of john s estates foreign kinsmen, caused great offence de vesci family. family s property , estates had been put guardianship of antony bek, sold them percys. time fortunes of percys, though still held yorkshire lands , titles, linked permanently alnwick , castle , have been owned percy family, earls , later dukes of northumberland since. stone castle henry percy bought modest affair, began rebuilding. though did not live see completion, building programme turned alnwick major fortress along anglo-scottish border. son, called henry (1299–1352), continued building. abbot s tower, middle gateway , constable s tower survive period. work @ alnwick castle balanced military requirements family s residential needs. set template castle renovations in 14th century in northern england; several palace-fortresses, considered extensive, opulent [and] theatrical date period in region, such castles of bamburgh , raby. in 1345 percys acquired warkworth castle, in northumberland. though alnwick considered more prestigious, warkworth became family s preferred residence.

the percy family powerful lords in northern england. henry percy, 1st earl of northumberland (1341–1408), rebelled against king richard ii , helped dethrone him. earl later rebelled against king henry iv , after defeating earl in battle of shrewsbury, king chased him north alnwick. castle surrendered under threat of bombardment in 1403.

alnwick castle j.m.w. turner

during wars of roses, castles infrequently engaged in battle , conflict based around combat in field. alnwick 1 of 3 castles held lancastrian forces in 1461 , 1462, , there practical defence of private castle made according military historian d. j. cathcart king. held against king edward until surrender in mid-september 1461 after battle of towton. re-captured sir william tailboys, during winter surrendered him hastings, sir john howard , sir ralph grey of heton in late july 1462. grey appointed captain surrendered after sharp siege in autumn. king edward responded vigour , when earl of warwick arrived in november queen margaret , french advisor, pierre de brézé forced sail scotland help. organised scots relief force which, under george douglas, 4th earl of angus , de brézé, set out on 22 november. warwick s army, commanded experienced earl of kent , pardoned lord scales, prevented news getting through starving garrisons. result, nearby bamburgh , dunstanburgh castles agreed terms , surrendered. hungerford , whittingham held alnwick until warwick forced withdraw when de breze , angus arrived on 5 january 1463.

the lancastrians missed chance bring warwick battle instead being content retire, leaving behind token force surrendered next day.

by may 1463 alnwick in lancastrian hands third time since towton, betrayed grey of heton tricked commander, sir john astley. astley imprisoned , hungerford resumed command.

after montagu s triumphs @ hedgeley moor , hexham in 1464 warwick arrived before alnwick on 23 june , received surrender next day.

after execution of thomas percy, 7th earl of northumberland, in 1572 alnwick castle uninhabited. in second half of 18th century robert adam carried out many alterations. interiors largely in strawberry hill gothic style not @ typical of work, neoclassical.

however, in 19th century algernon, 4th duke of northumberland replaced of adam s architecture. instead paid anthony salvin £250,000 between 1854 , 1865 remove gothic additions , other architectural work. salvin responsible kitchen, prudhoe tower, palatial accommodation, , layout of inner ward. according official website large amount of adam s work survives, little or none of remains in principal rooms shown public, redecorated in opulent italianate style in victorian era luigi canina.