Bloodshed, kidnap, ransom and even witchcraft and wizardry - Alnwick has been the scene of many a drama, even one that made it to the big screen!Home to more than one famous Harry, Alnwick Castle provided the exterior to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter films. But spells, potions and broomstick-flying antics, pale into insignificance when you take a closer look at the castle's dramatic history.There has been a castle of sorts on this site in Northumberland since the 11th Century. Alnwick began life as a Motte and Bailey castle. The Motte- a large mound of earth, and the surrounding bailey, are features that can still be identified in the castle today.Norman Gilbert Tyson, William the Conqueror's standard-bearer, set up the first residence at Alnwick. An error of judgement on Tyson's part, however, found him on the wrong side of a rebellion in 1095 and consequently he lost possession of Alnwick.The site then fell into the hands of Yvo de Vescy, who erected the first permanent building at Alnwick. Alnwick remained in the Vescy family until 1297 when William de Vescy died leaving no legitimate heir.In 1309, the Bishop of Durham, who had been placed in charge of the castle, sold Alnwick and its estates to Henry Percy - head of one of the most powerful families in England. It was the Percy family, in particular Henry Percy - nicknamed Harry Hotspur for his speed and skill in battle - that put Alnwick castle and his namesake tower, 'Hotspur's Seat', firmly on the map.'Hotspur's Seat' is a bower that sits to the west of the Record Tower at Alnwick. The first Duchess of Alnwick erected the bower in the 18th Century on the site of an old garret.It was the Duchess's love of the gothic tradition and her immense pride in her ancestry that lead her to build the bower and to name it after one of the Percys' more colourful characters.The Percys arrived in England from Normandy with William the Conqueror and were the uncrowned kings of the Northeast. Ever increasing border disputes with the Scottish, who were constantly trying to push into northern England, ensured that the Percys had their hands full.Hotspur was Alnwick's very own home-grown hero. Born in the castle in 1364, he quickly became a legend, helped some say, by dashing good looks and fearlessness in battle. Raised in hostile and violent times, Hotspur first went into battle at the tender age of eight and had been knighted by the time he was eleven.But it was at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 that Hotspur firmly cemented his infamous reputation, killing the Earl of Douglas, leader of a Scottish army, in hand to hand combat. Once he had despatched the leader, Hotspur went in pursuit of the retreating Scottish army. However, this rash behaviour proved to be his downfall and Hotspur was captured by the Scots, later to be ransomed back. This slight glitch in his career did little to dampen Hotspur's spirits and with one enemy slain, the Percys turned their attention closer to home.Hotspur, along with his father, the Earl of Northumberland, had more than a hand in disposing of King Richard II and bringing Henry the IV to the throne. But arguments over money saw the relationship between the Henry IV and the Percys turn sour and the stage was set for battle.It was at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 that Hotspur finally met his downfall. His attack against the Royalist army failed, and after his death in hand to hand combat, Hotspur's body was beheaded, quartered and displayed across the country. Harry Hotspur lived and died a hero, and, like all good heroes, he gave his life and name to British history.Whilst the 18th Century guard tower at Alnwick is named Hotspur's seat, it was Shakespeare who immortalised the character of Hotspur and the Battle of Shrewsbury in Henry IV Part One.Harry Hotspur has even given his name to the world famous Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, due to the fact the Percy family owned a family seat on Tottenham Marshes. It seems even in death, and over 600 years later, that Hotspurs' popularity, and indeed fighting spirit, lives on.
Come on you spurs!
