Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

Alnwick Castle is one of England’s most visited stately homes, and has a history dating back over nine hundred years. In recent years there has been a reurgence in visitor numbers visiting Alnwick Castle, with the castle being used in the filming of the Harry Potter films; Alnwick Castle becoming Hogwarts on film.

Alnwick Castle is situated in Alnwick in Northumberland and is home to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. It also has a long and illustrious history dating back to 1096 when the first stones were laid. This history makes it one of the oldest in the country, and its condition also makes it one of the best preserved.

Alnwick Castle - Andy Jamieson - CC-BY-SA-2.0

 Northumberland is the border county between England and Scotland and for long parts of its history it has acted as a defensive county against potential attacks from Scotland. It was for this reason that Yves de Vescy, the then baron of Alnwick started the construction of the castle. It was soon put to use and in the next hundred years it was twice besieged. In the fourteenth century the castle passed into the hands of the Percy family, the family that still owns it today. The Percy family strengthened and modernised the castle through into the fifteenth century, although the Percy family was often at odds with the monarch of the day, and had to hold of a number of other sieges, including those during the War of the Roses. The Percy family managed to hold onto their land and titles, and by the sixteenth century the country had settled down into one of relative peace, and further improvements to the castle were undertaken, especially as undertaken by the 6th Earl of Northumberland.

It is now difficult to distinguish between original features of the castle and subsequent improvements and alterations. A visitor today will see two rings of buildings, the inner ring being the inner sanctum of the castle, within a large bailey. This inner ring though couldn’t accommodate all of the necessary buildings and rooms needed to house all of the family and staff, and so further buildings were built in the outer ring. The remaining towers and walls are impressive, although some of the walls are much reduced in size in order to allow the Dukes of Northumberland to be able to view their extensive grounds.

Alnwick Castle State apartments - Richard Croft - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The grounds themselves are in many ways as impressive as the castle building, and are made up of two distinct parks. A small park to the north of the main castle was planned and landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, whilst a much larger park, Hulne Park, is also to be found adjacent to the castle.

Today Alnwick Castle is best known for being Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, although it the Harry Potter films do use computers to make it look different. It is though more than just a film setting and the castle and gardens are open to the public from the end of March until the end of October. The castle itself is open from 11am until 5pm, with the grounds open from 10am until 6pm, it should be remembered though that the grounds are not the same as the famous Alnwick Gardens which are a separate entity to the castle and involve an additional entrance charge. The cost of entry to the castle and grounds is about par for the course in this day and age, with up to date prices displayed on the castle’s webpage.

Alnwick Castle is a working castle and residence, although there is plenty for the casual visitor to look at and enjoy. The castle houses a number of exhibitions, including three shown off in three of the castle’s towers. There are exhibits dedicated to archaeology with special focus placed on Roman and Egyptian history. There are also displays dedicated to history of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and Northumberland volunteer regiments.

The Library is also an interesting area of Alnwick Castle to look around, with books to be seen from floor to ceiling. Many of the state rooms are also interesting to those interested in architecture and history, with the Drawing Room in particular decorated in a style reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance. Away fro the state rooms there is also the Coach House that displays some of the grandest coaches to be found anywhere in England.

Alnwick Castle Keep - David Hawgood - CC-BY-SA-2.0

For those looking for a more interactive experience there are also other exhibits including the Knights Quest, where you learn about becoming a young knight, and Dragon’s Quest, described as one of the scariest interactive challenges to be found at any of England’s castles. On some weekends there are also historical re-enactments put on showing the life and workings of a medieval castle.

Many people though just enjoy a relaxing stroll around the grounds, or indeed decide to take the weight off of their feet by eating at the castle’s restaurant, The Sanctuary. For those people interested in the history of England, then Alnwick Castle is certainly worth a day out, and there is plenty to do for your money. Visitors are well catered for and from the youngest to the oldest of visitors there is something to keep everyone interested.

Copyright - First Published 13th October 2009

Spofforth Castle, North Yorkshire

Located in the village of Spofforth, North Yorkshire, the ruins of Spofforth Castle are symbolic of the fate of many other English Castles. Spofforth Castle was once in the hands of the Percy family; and its history mirrors the fortunes of that old Norman family.

The site upon which Spofforth Castle stands probably once played host to a Norman motte and bailey castle constructed in the late eleventh century by William de Percy, a favoured member of the Norman court. The need for such a defensive site reduced over the years, and by the thirteenth century the site was home to a stone halled manor house. It is rumoured that during the Baron’s uprising against King John a draft of the Magna Carta was drawn up at Spofforth Castle, although there is no real supporting evidence for such an event.

Spofforth Castle - Mtaylor848 - CC-BY-SA-3.0

In 1308/9 Henry Percy applied to Edward II for permission to crenellate Spofforth Manor, turning the building once again into Spofforth Castle. Again at the time the stock of the Percy family was high with king’s court. Even at this point, the importance of Spofforth Castle was on the wane, and the Percy family were putting their money into Alnwick, Wressle and later Warkworth Castles. That being said, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries additions and improvements were made to the building, and it is also said to have been the birthplace of Harry Hotspur, one of the most famous of the Percys.

Spofforth Castle - John Sutton - CC-BY-SA-2.0

The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a period of fluctuation in the fortunes of the Percy family, and twice they would have their possessions seized by the throne, first by Henry IV and then the Earl of Warwick, after siding with the losing cause in two rebellions. By the sixteenth century, by which time the Percys were once again in favour, Spofforth Castle was little more than a large out building for the family, and by 1604 it was all but abandoned.

Today it is only the west range of Spofforth Castle that can be seen, comprising of two storeys connected by a stair turret. The hall, that is built against the bedrock, and chamber block can also be viewed. This dereliction is not solely due to the passage of time, as the defensive capabilities of Spofforth Castle were destroyed during and after the English Civil War.

Spofforth Castle - Mtaylor848 - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Currently Spofforth Castle is in the hands of English Heritage, with the Grade II listed building being given to the state in 1924 by the 3rd Baron of Leconfield. The castle is now free to visit and is open daily.

Copyright - First Published 29th December 2011

Hever Castle, Kent

England has a long history, and reminders of this history can be found all around the country. Each year hundreds of thousands of people visit the castles and stately homes spread around the country to take in this history, and the county of Kent is blessed with a number of these visitor attractions. One of the most popular of these castles is Hever Castle, near to Sevenoaks, with a history linked to Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII.

Visitors to Hever Castle are drawn by two main interests, the history of the English monarchy and also a love of the classic English garden.

Hever Castle - Charlesdrakew - Released into PD

History of Hever Castle

The history of Hever Castle goes back to 1270 when the gatehouse and walled bailey were constructed. The castle was then purchased by Geoffrey Boleyn in 1462 where it was to become the seat of the Boleyn family. Thus for a brief period it was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, although she was to spend much of her early life in the Netherlands and France. Anne Boleyn never actually owned Hever Castle as it was owned by her father Thomas Boleyn. As the second wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn predeceased her father by dying in 1536 when executed. Although disgraced by the disgrace of his daughter, Thomas was allowed to live out his life in the castle, where he died in 1539. The death of Thomas without a living male heir saw Hever Castle pass into the ownership of the crown, and Henry VIII saw fit to give it to Anne of Cleves once their marriage was annulled. There is little evidence though to suggest that Anne of Cleves took up residence in the castle and it eventually was sold to the Waldgrave family in 1557.

From 1749 the castle passed into the hands of the Meade Waldo family, who tended to lease the building out to tenants. This though did see the castle neglected in its upkeep, and it was only through the purchase of Hever Castle by William Waldorf Astor that money was once again invested into it. Astor invested a proportion of his millions into the castle and grounds and did much to shape what is now seen by the general public.

The most modern incarnation of Hever Castle has only occurred in the last thirty years when it was turned into a tourist attraction by Broadland Properties Limited. With the castle and grounds opened to the public attractions have been created, these include the traditional portrait and tapestry galleries. Long established exhibits include also a museum dedicated to the Yeomanry of Kent, as well as weapons and instruments of torture. There is also currently an exhibit entitled “Losing Your Head Over Henry” with the castle playing up its links to Henry VIII, this link is also seen with the wanderings of costumed actors and actresses around the castle.

Hever Castle Gardens - Charlesdrakew - Released into PD

Today at Hever Castle 
 
There are some 125 acres of gardens in the grounds of Hever Castle, with most laid out during the early years of the twentieth century. A thousand men were employed under the direction of Joseph Cheal and Son during the period from 1904 to 1908 to construct the 35 acre lake and the gardens. This construction saw the creation of the Italian Garden specifically designed to host the collection of Italian sculpture amassed by William Waldorf Astor.

The garden is also made up of a Rose Garden that is planted up with over three thousand plants. There are also a number of planned walks including those through the Tudor Garden, the Anne Boleyn Walk, Sunday Walk and Rhododendron Walk. The newest walk though is the Hever Lake Walk that was only opened in 2008.

There are a number of other water features to admire in the garden other than the large lake. There is the new Millennium Fountain, but also the more established loggia fountain based on the design of Rome’s Trevi fountain, as well as the Half Moon Pond and Cascade Rockery.

The gardens also host two of the most famous mazes in the country. There is a yew maze, planted during the time of Astor, as well as a newer water maze. Certainly be prepared to get wet if you decide to risk the water maze on Sixteen Acre Island, although the children certainly don’t seem to mind the risk.

The north side of Hever Castle - Charlesdrakew - Released into PD

Since ownership for Hever Castle has passed to Broadland Properties Limited, the castle has been slowly changed into a more widely appealing tourist attraction. To this end the grounds of Hever Castle play host to recreations of medieval battle fields and jousts, with the inclusion of jousting tournaments and archery competitions during the summer months.

Prices for entrance to the castle and the gardens are currently a reasonable price when compared to many other English stately homes. Prices vary on the time of the year that Hever Castle is being visited, and this is because the opening times and the number of exhibits open vary throughout the year. In general terms the gardens open at 10:45am with the castle opening at midday. It is a good idea to visit the Hever Castle website prior to a visit to ensure that the attractions are open.

All in Hever Castle makes for a good day out for all the family, and although many children will not be as interested as adults by the castle and the maze, the owners of Hever Castle have added many attractions to entertain in other ways.

Copyright - First Published 21st September 2008