Probably due to its long and contentious history, it seems like you can’t swing a cat without hitting a castle in Britain. In this list of a couple dozen castles, some are preserved in excellent condition, some are even occupied, and some are in ruins. All of them have a fascinating history. The castle shown here is Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. You might recognize it from the Harry Potter movies.
The first parts of the building were developed in 1096 by Yves de Vescy, Baron of Alnwick. King David I of Scotland took over the castle in 1136 and it saw sieges in 1172 and 1174 by William the Lion, King of Scotland. After the Battle of Alnwick in 1212, King John ordered the castles demolition, but the orders were not followed through.
In 1309, Henry Percy, 1st Baron Percy, bought the modest castle and redeveloped it to make it a very grand statement on the Scotland-England boarder.
The castle frequently exchanged hands over the next few centuries and after Thomas Percy’s execution in 1572 it remained uninhabited. In the 19th century, the 4th Duke of Northumberland altered and developed the castle and it remains the seat of the current Duke of Northumberland.
Learn about 23 other castles in Britain at Made from History. -via the Presurfer
(Image credit: Dr.Haus)