Alnwick

Sister cities

• Voerde
• Lagny-sur-Marne
• Bryne

History

The history of Alnwick is the history of the castle and its lords, starting with Gilbert Tyson (written variously as "Tison", "Tisson" and "De Tesson"), one of William the Conqueror's standard-bearers, upon whom this northern estate was bestowed. It was held by the De Vesci family (now spelt "Vasey" – a name found all over south-east Northumberland) for over 200 years and then passed into the hands of the House of Percy in 1309. The castle was founded as a timber structure by Ivo de Vesci in about 1096. In 1136, it was first recorded as being captured by David I of Scotland. In 1147, Alnwick Abbey was founded for Premonstratensian canons, a short distance west of the castle. At about the same time, the castle was rebuilt in stone. At various points in the town are memorials of the constant wars with the Scots, in which so many Percys spent the greater part of their lives. A cross near Broomhouse Hill across the river from the castle marks the spot where Malcolm III of Scotland was killed, during the first Battle of Alnwick in 1093. At the side of the broad shady road called Ratten Row, leading from the West Lodge to Bailiffgate, a stone tablet marks the spot where William the Lion of Scotland was captured during the second Battle of Alnwick in 1174 by a party of about 400 mounted knights, led by Ranulf de Glanvill. Hulne Priory, outside the town walls in Hulne Park, the Duke of Northumberland's walled estate, was a friary founded in about 1240 for the Carmelites by William de Vesci. It is said that the site was chosen for some slight resemblance to Mount Carmel where the order originated. In 1314, Sir John Felton was governor of Alnwick. During the 14th century the Percys did extensive work on the castle, adding new towers in the outer wall, strong gates to the…

Geography

Alnwick lies at (55.417, -1.700)1. The River Aln forms its unofficial northern boundary.

Most-observed species

• Black-headed Gull

  Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,333
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,051
• Herring Gull

  Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 · Aves
  3,044
• Eurasian Oystercatcher

  Haematopus ostralegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,013
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,924
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,508
• Great Cormorant/European Shag

  Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,412
• Gray/Purple Heron

  Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,277

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2020-01-23
  1 km NW of Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom