Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in Alnwick, Northumberland, England.The castle was first known of in 1096 when Yves de Vescy was Baron of Alnwick. Since 1309 it has been owned by the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland. It was built to defend England's northern border against the Scots, especially the border reivers.
The castle is situated in parklands designed by Lancelot Brown ("Capability Brown") and Thomas Call in the 18th century.
The castle is in good repair and used for many purposes. It provides a home for the present Duke and family; and office space for Northumberland Estates, which manages the Duke's extensive farming and property holdings.
Since the Second World War, part of the castle has been used by educational establishments - firstly by the Newcastle Church High School for Girls then, from 1945 to 1975 as a teacher training college and, since 1981, by St. Cloud State University as a branch campus forming part of their International Study Programme.
Special exhibitions are housed in three of the castle's perimeter towers. The Postern Tower has an exhibition of the Dukes of Northumberland and their interest in archaeology, including frescoes from Pompeii, relics from Ancient Egypt and Romano-British objects. Constable's Tower houses displays about military forces - the Percy Tenantry Volunteers - raised to repel Napoleon's planned invasion in the period 1798-1814. The Abbot's Tower houses the The Regimental Museum of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
Adjacent to the castle, the present Duchess of Northumberland, Jane, has established the Alnwick Garden, a formal garden set around a cascading fountain.
The castle was used as a location in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. It has previously been a location used in Blackadder I, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and many others listed in the Location section of the Alnwick Castle website.
The castle is open to the public throughout the summer. The watergardens are open year-round.