A walk around Alnwick town

Before leaving Alnwick, we had a walk around the town itself. It was a pleasant surprise to find such a characterful place with a vibrant atmosphere and lots of independent shops.

The town dates to about AD 600 and thrived as an agricultural centre. It was a staging post on the Great North Road between Edinburgh and London. The town centre has changed relatively little over the centuries.

There is a statue in the town dedicated to Harry Hotspur, Alnwick's famous Knight, and one of Shakespeare's best-known characters (Henry IV, part II).

Henry Percy was born on 20 May 1364 at Alnwick Castle, the eldest son of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, and Margaret Neville. Harry was taught to fight as soon as he could hold a sword, and at the age of ten, he accompanied his father on a campaign against the French. In 1376, he witnessed bloody fighting between the Scots and the English. Aged just 13, he was knighted, and in 1385, he went with Richard II on an expedition into Scotland. Due to his speed on the battlefield and his readiness to attack, the Scots nicknamed him 'Hotspur'.

Following a distinguished military career supporting the Royal Family, the Percys took up arms against the crown over King Henry IV's failure to address their grievances. Harry was killed in a battle against the king at Shrewsbury. He was 39 years old.Read more