See it: Alnwick Castle and Gardens

It is time to catch up on all of our adventures from this fall.  In early October, we visited Alnwick Castle and Gardens with AJ's parents.  I was particularly excited about this outing, because Alnwick is a residence for the Twelfth Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and has been in the Percy family for generations.  As beautiful and fascinating as I find castle ruins, I felt a need for a change in scenery for our Saturday adventures!

The entrance to the castle grounds

We entered the castle grounds through the door above.  This castle was once described as the most heavily fortified castle in 1138.  This castle stands as a landmark of the Norman Age.

The castle grounds looking to west after walking through the walls surrounding the grounds.

English weather was very cooperative on the day of our visit.  We were treated to glorious sunshine that truly highlighted the beauty of this castle.

This is the expansive eastern side of the castle residence as well as the Postern tower.

As a residence of the Twelfth Duke and Duchess of Northumberland since the mid 1990s, this remarkable piece of English history is also a home.  Due to the great expense of maintaining such a place, visitors are invited to tour the castle and grounds.  Photos were not permitted within the castle itself.  As I walked from room to room, there was a museum-quality of historical artifacts, art, and photographs.  Each holding significance to the history of this castle and the family who owns it.  Sprinkled among all of these artifacts were personal mementos and photographs that document special family moments.  While I cannot possibly imagine a childhood running the halls of this castle, playing board games in its great library, or crawling up with a book in one of its alcoves, all of the personal family treasures that dotted the tour, reminded me this is a home of a family.  It is a place where children have been raised, parties held, holidays celebrated, and family memories made.

These are two of the towers surrounding the castle grounds. 

Alnwick Castle was a defensive development on a bluff over looking a river with a moat that was impenetrable.  Through the years, soldiers stood watch in these towers and on the walls to guard against raids by the enemy.

The Stage Coach stored in the Coach House

In the livery, an impressive historical artifact is stored.  This coach was once a royal coach, which carried the Third Duke in 1825.  The Third Duke served as the representative of King George the IV to the coronation of Charles X in France.  The coach was repainted in 1902 with coat of arms of the Seventh Duke and Duchess for the coronation of King Edward VII.  While this coach has been witness to great moments in history, it has also been used during personal family events.  Mostly recently, this coach carried the Twelfth Duke's daughters on each of their wedding days.

Portion of the gates surrounding an area of the Alnwick Castle

The Twelfth Duchess of Northumberland, the current resident of the castle, has taken on the task of creating whimsical and innovative gardens within the old garden walls.  She has employed some of the greatest garden designers to create an experience for visitors second to none in England.

The paths among the topiaries that create a peaceful and serene experience with nature.

Portions of the Anlwick Gardens the highlight an emphasis on creating a imaginative experience.

Among the various sections of the garden were produce, topiaries, and a vast array of flowers.  In a separate gated section of the garden was an area designated as the "Poison Garden."

Entrance to the Poison Garden warning trespassers of the dangers on the other side of the gate.

Behind these locked gates, the Poison Garden is home to some of the most deadly plants.  This mystical portion the Anlwick Gardens was created to feed the curiosity of children.  The Twelfth Duchess of Northumberland felt that children were drawn to information on how plants killed people and the gruesome nature of the death.  On the particular day that we visited, we were only able to peek over the gate. 

Wall and gate on the castle gardens

As we strolled the castle grounds, we passed this wall and gate.  The sun beamed down on the autumn leaves, and this moment felt truly English.  This moment was the imagine I carried in my head for months as we prepared to move the land of tea, cathedrals, castles, and scones.  As I snapped this photo and soaked up the beauty surrounding me, this adventure felt like a dream.  Remember the lights are always on as I reminisce about our glorious day in the English countryside at a magnificent castle.

~W