The two north-western round towers of the keep, together with the Armourer's and Falconer's towers, have recently been swept away in order to accommodate the new Prudhoe Tower. During the last six years 200 workmen have been employed in transforming the feudal interior of the castle into a Roman palazzo. Alnwick, situated so near the border, was the scene of countless raids and conflicts during the Middle Ages, and with these fights the castle was always closely associated. It was besieged in 1093 by Malcolm III., King of Scotland, and defended by Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland. The Scottish king and his son Prince Edward both fell during the siege. King David gained possession of the town in 1135. William the Lion, who took part with young Richard, afterwards Coeur de Lion, against his father Henry II., entered Northumberland in 1174, with 80,000 men, and laid siege to Alnwick; but the attempt was a failure, and William was taken prisoner. [Illustration: _Photochrom Co., Ltd._ ALNWICK CASTLE. One of the finest examples of a feudal fortress in England.] LANERCOST PRIORY, CUMBERLAND =How to get there.=--Train from Euston _via_ Carlisle. L. and N.W. Railway. =Nearest Station.=--Brampton (Lanercost Abbey is situated 2 miles north of Brampton). =Distance from London.=--317 miles. =Average Time.=--Varies between 6 to 9 hours. 1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 40s. 10d. ... 24s. 4d. Return 81s. 8d. ... 48s. 8d. =Accommodation Obtainable.=--At Brampton--"Howard Arms," "White Lion Hotel." =Alternative Route.=--Train from St. Pancras. Midland Railway. Lanercost Priory is situated in a singularly beautiful sylvan valley watered by the river Irthing. Only the shell of the chancel remains, but the nave has been restored, and is now used as the church of the parish. The walls of the roofless transepts as well as the central tower are still standing. The pillars on the south side support a much decayed clerestory, but on the opposite side both the triforium and clerestory are in a fairly good state of preservation. A side chapel in the choir contains some very finely carved but battered altar-tombs belonging to the Dacre family--one of them is believed to be that of Lord William Howard. Under what was the refectory of the conventual buildings, one may find the crypt in a very good state of preservation. In it are preserved some Roman altars and carvings discovered at various times in the locality. A number of Roman inscriptions having been discovered on the walls of the Priory Church; it is generally supposed that much of the building material was obtained from the Roman wall. The Rev. J. Maughan has argued for the existence of a Roman station at this point, and its name is believed to have been _Petriana_.