Another tour up north, inland this time to Alnwick Castle. Very popular due to the nearby Gardens and for its appearance in Harry Potter, Transformers: The Last Knight and Downton Abbey.
There is parking at the castle but it was busy so we chose to park just around the corner in a nearby car park.
Alnwick Castle was built in the 11th Century to control and protect the border, symbolising status and power for the new Norman barons across the country. A result of its role in history, the castle boasts numerous defences, including 2 metre thick walls, a 7 metre deep moat, two baileys and thick oak gates.
The castle was attacked by then King of Scotland, William the Lion, in 1173 and 1174. He was captured during the second attack and forced to pledge fealty to King Henry II.The Percy Family still live in the castle today.
Here's a drawing of the castle and grounds.
A statue of Harry Hotspur. Sir Henry Percy KG (20 May 1364 – 21 July 1403), nicknamed Hotspur or Harry Hotspur, was an English knight who fought in several campaigns against the Scots in the northern border and against the French during the Hundred Years' War. The nickname "Hotspur" was given to him by the Scots as a tribute to his speed in advance and readiness to attack.
One of England's football clubs, Tottenham Hotspur, is named after Hotspur, who lived in the region and whose descendants owned land in the neighbourhood of the club's first ground in the Tottenham Marshes. He was also well known for having a highly favoured enjoyment of watching cockfighting, hence the club's badge symbol.
It just so happened that the time we visisted a medieval jousting competititon was going on.
With real horses and real knights...
...and real injuries. One competitor ended up in an ambulance, possibly spending the "knight" in hospital?
