Alnwick

Alnwick is a small market town in Northumberland, England. It serves as the administrative centre for the Alnwick district, and had a population of 7,100 at the time of the 2001 census.

Overview

According to Country Life, October 2002, the "historic county town of Northumberland and seat of the Duke of Northumberland, Alnwick is the most picturesque market town in Northumberland, and the best place to live in Britain".

Set in the heart of the county of Northumberland, the bustling market town of Alnwick dates back to approximately 600 AD.

Over the centuries Alnwick has thrived as an agricultural centre and as a staging post on the Great North Road between Edinburgh and London. The fabric of the town has changed little and still retains much of its original character.

Features

The town's greatest building is Alnwick Castle, the home of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, and site of the Alnwick Garden.

The Alnwick playhouse is a multi-purpose arts centre, which stages an exciting programme of theatre, dance, music, cinema, and visual arts exhibitions.

Major events in the Alnwick town calendar include:

• Alnwick Fayre, staged in the summer as a costumed re-enactment of a mediaeval fair in which residents of the town dress up in authentic costumes
• the Alnwick International Music Festival
• the Tenantry Column - much in the style of Nelson's Column, 83 feet tall and topped by the Percy Lion, symbol of the Percy family. The column, designed by Charles Harper, was erected for Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland in 1816.
• Brizlee Tower, a Grade 1 listed folly tower set atop a hill in Hulne Park, the Duke's walled estate, designed by Robert Adam in 1777 and erected in 1781 for Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
• The Pinfold, a stone circular structure within the centre of the town, built to imprison stray cattle.

Commerce & Industry

Formerly a largely rural and agrarian community, the town now lies well within the "travel to work" radius of Morpeth and Newcastle Upon Tyne and has a sizeable commuter population. Some major or noteworthy employers in the town include:

• House of Hardy, world-renowned makers of fly-fishing tackle.
• Greys of Alnwick, also world-renowned makers of fly-fishing tackle!
• Northumberland Estates, which manages the Duke of Northumberland's agricultural, forestry and property interests.
• Barter Books, one of the largest second-hand book shops in the England, set in the town's former railway station.
• Sanofi Alnwick Research Centre, a very large research and testing centre owned by the ¹. The River Aln forms its northern boundary.

External Links

• on the Keys to the Past website.