Photographs of Alnwick Castle

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Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland, since 1309. The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle. The Castle was first restored, primarily as a fortress, by the 1st Lord Percy of Alnwick in the early 1300s and portions of this restoration remain today, including the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower.
Since then generations of Percys have continued to make their mark. During the late 17th century the Castle fell into decay until the first Duke and Duchess of Northumberland took up the challenge and turned it into a family residence with the help of architects such as Robert Adam and the landscape designer, Capability Brown. The family still live there now.