Alnwick facts for kids

For other uses, see Alnwick (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Alnwick
The town of Alnwick, including Alnwick Castle
Alnwick
Population	8,116 (2011 census)
OS grid reference	NU186129
Civil parish	Alnwick
Unitary authority	Northumberland
Ceremonial county	Northumberland
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALNWICK
Postcode district	NE66
Dialling code	01665

Police	Northumbria
Fire	Northumberland
Ambulance	North East

EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	North Northumberland
List of places UK England Northumberland 55°24′48″N 1°42′25″W / 55.4134°N 1.7069°W / 55.4134; -1.7069

Alnwick (pronounced AN-ik) is a lively market town in Northumberland, England. It's known as the traditional county town of Northumberland. In 2011, about 8,116 people lived there.

The town sits on the south side of the River Aln. It's about 32 miles (51 km) south of Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Scottish border. The North Sea is just 5 miles (8 km) away at Alnmouth. Alnwick is also about 34 miles (55 km) north of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Alnwick has been around since about 600 AD. It grew into an important farming area. Alnwick Castle was once home to the powerful Percy family, who were the Earls of Northumberland. The town was also a key stop on the Great North Road, which connected Edinburgh and London. While the town centre still looks much like it used to, Alnwick has grown with new homes and businesses.

Discovering Alnwick's Past

The name Alnwick comes from old English words. Wic means 'dairy farm' or 'settlement'. This was combined with the name of the River Aln.

Alnwick Castle in winter (December 2013)

The story of Alnwick is closely tied to its famous castle and the important families who lived there. One of the first owners was Gilbert Tyson, a flag-bearer for William the Conqueror. Later, the De Vesci family owned it for over 200 years. In 1309, the castle passed to the powerful House of Percy.

Ivo de Vesci first built the castle from timber around 1096. It was captured by David I of Scotland in 1136. Around the same time, Alnwick Abbey was built for canons (a type of priest) near the castle. The castle was then rebuilt using stone.

You can find memorials around Alnwick that remind us of the many wars with Scotland. The Percy family spent much of their lives fighting in these battles. A cross near Broomhouse Hill marks where Malcolm III of Scotland was killed in 1093. This was during the first Battle of Alnwick. Another stone tablet marks where William the Lion of Scotland was captured in 1174. This happened during the second Battle of Alnwick.

Hulne Priory is a old monastery outside the town walls. It was built around 1240 for the Carmelites (a religious order). People say the spot was chosen because it looked a bit like Mount Carmel, where the order started.

In the 14th century, the Percy family made many improvements to Alnwick Castle. They added new towers and strong gates. However, after the Percys challenged King Henry IV, the king took the castle in 1403.

In 1424, Scottish raiders burned much of the town. It was burned again in 1448 by a Scottish army. After these attacks, the town built walls for protection. The monasteries also added defensive towers.

Alnwick was also a key battleground during the Wars of the Roses in England. It was attacked and taken many times by both sides. One historian said Alnwick was the most besieged place in the country during these wars.

During the English Reformation, the monasteries in Alnwick closed down in 1539. The Percy family also left the castle for a while. They returned in the mid-1700s and have lived there ever since.

During the Second World War, a fuel storage depot was built in Alnwick. It had large tanks for fuel. This site closed in the 1970s. The A1 London–Edinburgh trunk road now goes around the town. This bypass was started in 1968.

Alnwick's Location

Alnwick is located at 55.417°N, -1.700°W. The River Aln forms its northern border.

How Alnwick is Governed

The rear view of Alnwick Town Hall (the main entrance is in the Market Place)

Historically, Alnwick was part of different local areas. The Alnwick Town Hall was where the town council met. In 2011, a special voting area (ward) covered part of Alnwick parish. Its population was 4,766 people.

Local Businesses and Jobs

Barter Books in Alnwick

Some important businesses in Alnwick include:

Barter Books: This is one of England's largest second-hand bookshops. It's located in the town's old railway station.
Quotient Sciences Alnwick: A big centre for making, researching, and testing medicines.
NFU Mutual: A company that provides insurance, pensions, and investments.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: A government department.
House of Hardy, Fly Fishing Gear: A famous brand for fly fishing equipment.

Learning in Alnwick

The main secondary school in Alnwick is The Duchess's Community High School.

Famous Places in Alnwick

The most famous building in Alnwick is Alnwick Castle. It's one of the homes of the Duke of Northumberland. The castle also has the amazing The Alnwick Garden. The castle grounds were designed by Capability Brown. They include old ruins like St Leonard's Hospital, Alnwick Abbey, and Hulne Priory.

Alnwick marketplace at night in winter

The town centre is the marketplace. Here you'll find the market cross and the Northumberland Hall, which is used for meetings.

The Alnwick Playhouse is a busy arts centre. It hosts theatre, dance, music, movies, and art shows.

In 2003, the Willowburn Leisure Centre opened. It's a modern sports centre on the edge of town.

Bailiffgate Museum, a local history museum

Alnwick's museum is the Bailiffgate Museum. It's near the castle entrance. The museum tells the story of local life. It has many old farming tools, household items, railway objects, and photos. There are also fun activities for children.

Other interesting places in and near Alnwick include:

Brizlee Tower, a folly and observation platform overlooking Hulne Park, the Duke of Northumberland's walled estate by Alnwick Castle

The Bondgate Tower: Also called the Hotspur Tower, it's the only remaining part of the medieval town wall. It's named after Sir Henry 'Hotspur' Percy.
Brizlee Tower: A tall, decorative tower (called a folly) in Hulne Park. It was designed in 1777 and offers great views.
Camphill Column: Built in 1814 to celebrate British victories in Europe.
The Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland: Located inside Alnwick Castle.
The Pottergate Tower: A decorative tower from 1768 on the site of an old medieval gate.
RAF Boulmer: An old airfield from World War II. Now it helps with radar and communications.
St Michael's Church: The main church in town, dating back to the 15th century.
The Tenantry Column: A tall column, 83 feet (25 m) high, topped with the Percy Lion. It was built in 1816 to thank the Duke of Northumberland.
The White Swan Hotel: An old coaching inn. It has the First Class Lounge and other parts from the Titanic's sister ship, RMS Olympic.

Sports Teams

Alnwick RFC (Rugby Football Club)
Alnwick Town A.F.C. (Association Football Club)

Local News and Media

Local news and TV shows for Alnwick come from BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Tyne Tees.

Alnwick has several local radio stations: BBC Radio Newcastle (96.0 FM), Hits Radio North East (102.6 FM), and Lionheart Radio (107.3 FM), which is a community station.

The Northumberland Gazette is the town's local newspaper.

Events in Alnwick

Bondgate Tower with its Christmas Lights (2012)

The Alnwick Fair used to be an annual event. From 1969 to 2007, people would dress up and recreate old trading and farming fairs. This event is no longer held.

Getting Around Alnwick

Road Travel

Bondgate Tower

Alnwick is right next to the A1, which is the main road connecting London and Edinburgh. This makes it easy to reach Newcastle upon Tyne (about 35 miles or 56 km south) and Edinburgh (about 80 miles or 129 km north).

Train Travel

The East Coast Main Line train route runs through Alnmouth for Alnwick Station. This station is about 4 miles (6 km) from Alnwick. You can get to Edinburgh in about 1 hour 10 minutes. A trip to London takes about 3 hours 45 minutes. There are many trains each day.

The Alnwick branch line used to connect Alnwick's own station to Alnmouth. This line closed in 1968. Since the 2010s, a group called the Aln Valley Railway Trust has been working to reopen it as a heritage railway. They built a new station called Alnwick Lionheart terminus on the edge of town. The project is still ongoing.

Air Travel

Newcastle Airport is about 45 minutes away by car. It offers many daily flights to London and other UK cities.

Sister Cities

Alnwick is twinned with these towns:

Bryne, Norway
Lagny-sur-Marne, France
Voerde, Germany

Famous People from Alnwick

Stella Vine

Born in Alnwick

Henry 'Hotspur' Percy (1364?–1403): A famous knight and son of the 1st Earl of Northumberland.
George Biddell Airy (1801–1892): The Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881.
James Patterson (1833–1895): An Australian politician who became premier of Victoria.
Bernard Bosanquet (1848–1923): A well-known philosopher.
Sid Waddell (1940–2012): A popular sports commentator and TV personality.
Stella Vine (born 1969): An artist.
Laura Weightman (born 1991): A former British middle-distance runner and Olympic athlete.
Kelland Watts (born 1999): A professional footballer.

Lived in Alnwick

Lucy Bronze (born 1991): A famous footballer for Barcelona and England. She played junior football in Alnwick.

Died in Alnwick

Malcolm III of Scotland (died 1093): The King of Scotland.

Malcolm III of Scotland died in Alnwick in the Battle of Alnwick (1093)

Filming Location

Alnwick town has been used as a setting for movies and TV shows.

Films

2000: Harry Potter (parts filmed at Alnwick Castle)
2011: Your Highness
2012: Villains

Television

1987: Treasure Hunt (Northumberland episode)
1991–1993: Spender
1998-2011: History's Mysteries (Episode: Doomed Sisters of the Titanic)
2011-: All Over the Place (Episodes: Tree Houses, Buses and Pie Eating!; Scary Castles, Teapots and Onion Eating!)
2013-: The Other Child
2014: Vera (Series 4, Episode 1: On Harbour Street)
2015: Vera (Series 5, Episode 3: Muddy Waters) – a scene was filmed in Alnwick's market place during a real market.
2013-: Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green (Episode: More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green: Industrial Heritage)
2018-: The Heist
2012-: Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways (Episode: Chris Tarrant: Railways of the Somme)

Freedom of the Town

Some people have been given the special honour of "Freedom of the Town" of Alnwick. This is a way to recognize their important contributions.

Bill Batey: 2019
Adrian Ions: 12 November 2021
William "Bill" Hugonin: 18 March 2022.