Alnwick Castle

Alnwick dates back to 1096 but its historical importance comes in to its own when Sir Henry Percy was born here in 1364. Henry was a great warrior. He was only 14 years old when he was nick named 'Hotspur' during a raid against the King of Scotland. The name was a reference to the extraordinary eagerness with which he rode into battle. Commanding armies of up to 10,000 men in numerous battles against the Scots, Henry was finally kidnapped and held to ransom by the Scots.

When he was set free he turned against his own King. In 1399 he joined other nobles in a rebellion against Richard II, a rebellion which led to the King's downfall. In 1403 Hotspur finally met his end - he was killed in the Battle of Shrewsbury in yet another rebellion, this time against Henry IV.

Today, the castle remains very similar to how Henry would have known it. It is easy to imagine this determined young man strutting along the curtain walls of his massive, impregnable fortress, studded with menacing gatehouses and strong towers.