Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
Matters so remained until the accession of Duke Algernon, better known
as Lord Prudhoe, a naval officer and a good man of business, who had
travelled much and possessed a cultivated taste, and was of a truly
noble and magnificent disposition. While foremost in works of public
usefulness connected with his estates, county, and profession, and
careful to drain his lands, rebuild the cottages of his labourers,
restore the local churches, and provide lifeboats for his dangerous
coast, he, under the sound advice of Mr. Salvin, almost rebuilt
the castle, preserving with scrupulous care all that admitted of
preservation, and adapting his new work to the period of the first and
second Percy, the founders of the later castle. Having thus restored
the great fortress of the Border with strict regard to the rules of
military architecture, he proceeded, under the advice of Canina, to
fit up the interior in the style of an Italian palace. The contrast
afforded is certainly extreme, and the attempt on so costly a scale was
hardy; but the adaptation of the fittings to the irregular plan of the
rooms is so well conceived, the materials employed are so rich, and the
execution of the details is so skilful, that it is difficult to regard
even so great an incongruity as other than a distinguished success.
Much attention has of late years been paid, and by very competent
persons, to the history of this castle. Grose gives some particulars,
now very valuable; but this and the castles of Warkworth and Prudhoe
have been illustrated by the late Mr. Hartshorne, and are treated
of also by him with great success in the Northumberland volume of
the Archæological Institute. More recently, Mr. Tate has handled the
subject of Alnwick Castle with both skill and accuracy in his admirable
history of the barony of Alnwick. And finally, in the “Life of William
Rufus,” Mr. Freeman has touched lightly but very effectively upon the
connexion of Alnwick and its lords with Northumbrian history. In the
above sketch free use has, to some extent, been made of the above
materials; but the object of the writer has been to treat solely of the
fabric of the castle, and that from a military point of view.
REFERENCES.
1. Donjon.
2. Inner Ward.
3. Outer Ward.
4. Terrace.
5. Stable Courts.
6. Kitchen.
7. Estate Offices.
8. Ravine.
9. Ditch.
10. Tower.
11. Inner Gate.
12. Middle Gate.
13. Barbican.
14. Hall.
15. Withdrawing-room.
16. Music-room.
17. Ante-room.
18. Library. Prudhoe Tower.
19. Chapel.
20. State Bedroom.
21. Entrance.
22. Spur Gallery.
23. West Garret.
24. Abbot’s Tower.
25. Falconer’s Tower.
26. Postern Tower.
27. Constable’s Tower.
28. Ravine Tower.
29. Hotspur’s Chair.
30. East Garret.
31. Warder’s Tower.
32. Auditor’s Tower.
33. Clock Tower.
34. Avener’s Tower.
35. Garden.
[Illustration: PLAN OF ALNWICK CASTLE, NORTHUMBERLAND.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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