Ricardian Tour, June 2008

 

June 17, 2008
 
Alnwick Castle struck me for three reasons: first, for its beauty and the excellent way in which it is kept, the exibitions, the children area, etc; second, for being the location of so many movies, from Harry Potter to Elizabeth; and third, because the Percy family still lives inside it, and a colour photo of the 12th Duke welcomes visitors at the entrance.

Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland (1449-1489), was at Bosworth commanding Richard III's rear-guard, but did not fight in the battle, for treason of for material impediment is unknown.

It's a sore lesson that Richard's main castles, Middleham, Fotheringhay, Barnard, are now just ruins, while Northumberland's castles are in perfect conditions and attract many more visitors than Richard's.

Anyway, the place was fabulous. I skipped the main building, which I know displays finely furnished rooms, and did a tour around the walls, watching the birds of prey exibition, delighted to walk on the grass where Harry Potter's Quidditch scenes were filmed, and ended into the children area and the Horror House. 

 

 

Birds of prey exibition

 

Knight's Quest

 

Shooting blockbusters in Alnwick

 

 
previous stop: Hadrian's Wall

 next day: Lindisfarne

 

all photos here © Cecilia Latella 2008. Please do not misuse.

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