PLAN |
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Adapted from Military architecture in England during the Middle Ages, Thompson, p. 115 |
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West Front |
GENERAL VIEWS | |
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©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 | ©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 |
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Castle in the Distance | View of Castle from Across River Aln |
RUBICON | ||
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©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 | ©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 | ©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 |
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General View | Enciente Walls (before 1157) | General View |
Note the stone figures of warriors on the merlons. Though the figures are modern, the pracitice of having stone "defender" figures was comparitavely common in England in the Middle Ages. Thompson argues that they were purely ornamental and designed to frighten attackers. Thompson, page 245. |
WARDS | ||
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©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 | ©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 | ©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 |
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Octagonal Towers and Postern Towers | Outer Bailey and View | Middle Gateway |
OCTAGONAL TOWERS: GATEHOUSE OF KEEP | |
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©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 | ©Alison Stones, Courtesy of Dr. Ruth Dean, 1967 |
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The gatehouse of the keep and curtain walls of the wards are thought to date from the 12th century. They are usually attributed to Eustace, son of King John I. Eustace died in 1157. (Thompson, p. 116)
Earlier castle bought by Henry Percy in 1309-10, who made many changes to the keep and other parts of the castle (Platt, p. 128-30)
Most of the buildings on the center mound around the courtyard are 19th century reconstructions of the 14th century house of the Percys. (Thompson, p. 115)
Platt, Colin. The Castle in Medieval England and Wales. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1981.
Thompson, A. Hamilton. Military architecture in England during the middle ages, by A. Hamilton Thompson ... illustrated by 200 photographs, drawings, and plans. London, New York [etc.]: H. Frowde, 1912.
Toy, Sidney. Castles, a short history of fortifications from 1600 B.C. to A. D. 1600. London, Toronto: W. Heinemann, ltd. [1939].
Rathbone, Jill. "Alnwick Castle" in Archaeological Journal 133 (1976), p. 149.