The Alnwick Castle Podcast

As well as the Great Kitchen of Alnwick Castle being opened to visitors for the first time in 2025, the suite of larder rooms connected to it are also available to see. One of these was the Game Larder - a very important space in the Victorian period for the types of meat that were stored in there ready to be cooked. And one of the ways that game was procured was the traditional pursuit of falconry!With that in mind, who better to tell us about hunting with birds of prey at this time in history than Raphael Historic Falconry? We sat down with Emma and Mike - with an extra special guest appearance from Ella the goshawk, who you will hear at various points! - to learn about how falconry might have played a part in the processes of the castle Kitchens.You will hear about the restoration of falconry as a fashionable 19th century gentleman's pursuit, and how it pushed the medieval and Tudor traditions of falconry forward. You'll also discover the kinds of birds used, how the game they caught would then be gutted, plucked and hung (skip ahead a minute or two if you have a sensitive stomach) and how Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington pioneered the use of birds of prey as pest control!You can see Raphael Historic Falconry in action at Alnwick Castle this summer, where they'll be performing - hopefully with Ella the goshawk accompanying them! - on select dates in July and August. Please check our website for full details.And for more from Emma, head all the way back to episode 4 of this podcast for an introduction to falconry and Alnwick Castle's links to this fascinating tradition.

Elizabeth Percy, 1st Duchess of Northumberland, who lived at Alnwick Castle in the middle decades of the 18th century, was a collector, courtier and artistic patron. But did you know she was also a regular theatregoer?Her many diaries include various mentions of plays she saw, some of which were by William Shakespeare, and her collections include miniature portraits of famous actors and actresses. But what was Shakespeare and the theatre like for Georgian audiences? How did it change during the 1st Duchess' lifetime? And why is the 18th century important in the history of Shakespeare?To find out more, we spoke to our regular Shakespearean expert, Ronan Paterson, and another special guest. Professor Ryuta Minami, of the Tokyo Keizai University of Economics, is an expert in theatre of the 17th and 18th centuries, and joined us for a fascinating conversation.Among other things, you will hear how theatre and acting changed during this time, and how Shakespeare was changed for Georgian tastes; stories of the great actors of the 18th century, especially David Garrick, who had a few connections to the 1st Duchess; and Northumberland's own theatre history and traditions.Speaking of this, we have a Shakespeare troupe visiting us this summer! The Three Inch Fools bring their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream to Alnwick Castle on 22 July. Find tickets on our website, by searching Three Inch Fools At Alnwick Castle, or by visiting https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-midsummer-nights-dream-presented-by-the-three-inch-fools-tickets-1289546200399 . It's one of our favourite plays (even if Samuel Pepys wouldn't agree!)And for more Shakespeare on the Alnwick Castle Podcast, find our previous annual episodes in our feed - episode 8 for the castle's Shakespeare connections, episode 33 for Henry IV Part I, and episode 58 for Shakespeare's Wars of the Roses.

In the last episode of the podcast, you will have heard the history of the Alnwick Castle Kitchens, created by architect Anthony Salvin in the late 1850s for the 4th Duke of Northumberland. In this follow-up episode, you will find out about what has been happening in the past year to open these amazing spaces to the public for the first time ever.The Great Kitchen and its larder rooms will be open for visitors from our 2025 season onwards - and a lot of work has been taking place to make this happen.We are joined by two of the key people involved in 'Project 'Shurlock': Rediscovering the Life of the Great Kitchen at Alnwick Castle' - project head Catherine Neil and one of our favourite recurring guests on the podcast, archivist Chris Hunwick.Catherine and Chris sat together to discuss the first phase of the project and the discoveries made so far. They look over some of the original photographs that inspired the project, explain the project title, and much more. We hope you enjoy this glimpse behind the scenes before your next visit to the castle - where you will see the results of Phase 1!For the episode focusing on the history of the Kitchens, look for episode 77 in our podcast archive. Enjoy!

Question: which part of Alnwick Castle was once considered the finest of its kind in the world?Answer: it was the Victorian Kitchens, which were created in the 1850s to be an architectural, culinary and technological marvel!In this episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, we explore some of the history of the castle kitchens - from the original medieval kitchen area to the developments of the Victorian period. You will hear reports from newspapers of the time, find out about the underground tunnels that delivered food, and hear about a few of the people who worked in these spaces.The Kitchen spaces have changed over time. In the 20th century, a school, a training college and St Cloud State University have all used the Great Kitchen and the larder rooms nearby. Last year, a long-term project began to rediscover the history of this area within Alnwick Castle - look out for next month's episode to hear more about that!This episode was recorded in various castle locations, so you may hear the sound levels change slightly as it is playing.Bon appetit!

The Alnwick Castle Podcast returns for 2025! Before we get into the description of this episode, a quick programming note. New episodes of the podcast will now arrive on the last Wednesday of each month, or every four weeks. Please make sure to stay subscribed so you do not miss any.On this episode, we travel to Rome during the Italian Renaissance to explore one of the most impressive parts of the Alnwick Castle art collection. The Visitation by Sebastiano del Piombo catches the eye of every visitor who walks through the Ante Library in the State Rooms. But who was Sebastiano? What was the argument he had with Michelangelo? Why are these fragments of an unfinished artwork important? And how did they end up in Alnwick?To answer all these questions and many more, we spoke to an expert - Dr Piers Baker-Bates of the Open University, who has a book soon to be published about Sebastiano, one of the most pioneering painters in 16th century Italy. We hope you enjoy learning more about Renaissance art, Sebastiano, and The Visitation. To see the images Piers describes in our conversation, please check our social media feeds - pictures of The Visitation will accompany the posts about this podcast.We'll see you at the end of February for the next episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast!

In our final episode of 2024, the Alnwick Castle Podcast presents a timeline of the entire history of the castle ... or, at least, the most significant moments in the history of the castle.Join our hosts Daniel and Deborah as they run through the story of Alnwick Castle in chronological order, from the arrival of the Percy family in England in 1067 to the use of the castle as a filming location in the first Harry Potter movie in 2000.We hope the timeline is a useful and entertaining help for getting the history of Alnwick Castle in order, and for showing its connections to so many famous figures and moments in wider history.Several of the subjects mentioned have their own dedicated podcast further back in our feed. Just look for:Wars of the RosesThomas Percy and the Gunpowder PlotThe Dunbar PrisonersThe 1st Duke and Duchess of NorthumberlandPercy Tenantry VolunteersSt Cloud State Universityto find out more.We will return with more podcasts in 2025 - if there is any subject you would like to hear us talk more about, just get in touch and let us know. We will see you then!

You may have visited Alnwick Castle this year, or last year, or before that, but did you know there is a beautiful park just west of the castle with a history almost as long?In this episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, join hosts Daniel and Deborah for a brief history of Hulne Park - from the two groups of monks that lived there in the medieval period, to its restoration in the Georgian period, to the modern day.You will hear about the transport of cattle from Northumberland to London in the 15th century; the decision made in the Victorian period to open the park to the public; and how Hulne Park connects Alnwick Castle to Russian empress Catherine the Great!This episode is just a quick taster of the history of Alnwick parkland. For more, we recommend the book 'A History of Alnwick Parks and Pleasure Grounds', by the castle's former archivist Colin Shrimpton. And of course, for many days of the year Hulne Park is still available for visitors to enjoy. Please go to northumberlandestates.co.uk to find out more.For more brief histories from the Alnwick Castle podcast, head into our feed and go all the way back to episodes 1 and 2 - or more something more specific, look for episode 54, focusing on the Wars of the Roses, or episodes 30 and 31 exploring the lives of notable Percy women. Enjoy1

During summer time at Alnwick Castle, we love to invite historical musicians to play music of the past for our visitors in the castle grounds. New to Alnwick this year were the duo Pearl in the Egg (a.k.a Karen and Liz), who play melodies from the 11th century Saxon period to the 16th century Elizabethan.We joined them at the end of their final day of performances at the Castle to find out more about them, their instruments, and the kind of music you might hear at a castle like Alnwick - or a nearby tavern. The first part of the episode took place outside in the grounds, so you may hear various background noises. For this part of the podcast, we had an audience of castle visitors, including the Kaye family, who had some questions of their own to ask! You will hear some short excerpts of medieval music too.The second part of the episode happened inside, and also features excerpts of music, including an extended piece with vocals at the conclusion of our conversation.For more musical episodes of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, look in our feed for podcasts about medieval music with Trouvere, Tudor music, and the Northumbrian pipes. And head to pearlintheegg.co.uk for more about this great musician duo!

Alnwick Castle, for hundreds of years, was a border fortress, part of the defensive line protecting England from Scottish attacks. But throughout the medieval period and into the Tudor and Elizabethan periods, families on both sides of the border were known as reivers - thieves, raiders and criminals who took every opportunity to attack their rivals.We spoke to our resident master longbowman, Andy Rice, who also happens to be a bit of an expert on the reivers! Andy tells us who they were, when reiving was at its peak and when it died out, and the Percy family's role as wardens on the border, based at Alnwick Castle, trying to restore order where they could.You will also find out about the great rival to the Percys in Elizabethan times, Sir John Forster; what led the Archbishop of Glasgow to write "the great cursing" against the reivers, and their connection to Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon!We recorded this episode in Artisans Courtyard, on quite a windy day, so you may hear various microphone popping sounds background noises at certain times. (We have tried to remove these wherever we could.)We hope you enjoy this look into reivers (especially if you've only heard the word before on sci-fi shows like 'Firefly'!) and also hope you can leave us a rating or review if you did!

If you are a subscriber to the Alnwick Castle Podcast (thank you!) or you follow us on social media, you will be aware of the Library Project that has been taking place throughout 2024, restoring and reimagining this vital part of the State Rooms.As part of our podcast mini-series following the progress of the project, we were joined for a third and final time by Project Conservator Ellin Belton and Household Controller Andrew Jarman as work in the Library reached its final stages. They reflect on the developments since we last spoke in the summer, and on the project as a whole, as well as pay tribute to the members of the project team who have devoted time and effort to the Library since February this year.We hope you enjoy hearing from Ellin and Andrew again, but if you missed their other podcast appearances, head to episodes 59 and 62 in our podcast feed to catch up on the Alnwick Castle Library Project so far.If you enjoyed the episode, we would be grateful for any five-star ratings and reviews you can leave us on your podcast platform - and we hope to welcome you to the beautiful, newly-restored Library in 2025!

What can 500-year-old tiles tell us about the rise and fall of a noble family in the Tudor period? Quite a lot, as it turns out! Join us for this historical detective story, as we look into the mystery of why the survival of Percy family tiles is such a rare occurrence, and what the building of a Victorian chocolate factory has to do with their rediscovery...To explain this intriguing history, we are joined (for her fourth appearance on the podcast) by Karen Slade from the Company of Artisans, an expert on medieval tiles who has spent years researching and recreating the Percy tiles from the fragments that remain. It is always fascinating listening to Karen and we hope you think so too!The book Karen refers to during the episode is 'Medieval Floor Tiles of Northern England' by Jenny Stopford, published by Oxbow books.For more from Karen, head into our podcast archive for episode 47 about illuminated manuscripts and the scriptorium, or episode 15 for an introduction to the subject of tiles.And, of course, don't forget to make a tile of your own on your next visit to Artisans Courtyard at Alnwick Castle!

Did you know there was a Duke of Northumberland two centuries before the Percy family of Alnwick Castle were given the title? And that the person who held the dukedom also spent time here at Alnwick? He was John Dudley, part of one of the most important families of the Tudor period and one of the people who features in The House of Dudley, a fascinating book by Dr Joanne Paul that explores this family and their history.We were very lucky to get to speak to Dr Paul about John Dudley and his connections to Alnwick Castle and Northumberland, as well as many other things, from the first rise of the Dudleys around the time of the Wars of the Roses to their connection with Syon House - now another Percy family property.You will also hear about the relationship between Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth I, the 7th Earl of Northumberland and his dislike of Robert, and the story of how a single "and" changed the life of Lady Jane Grey (who was a Dudley through marriage) and the course of English history.The House of Dudley is available now from all good bookshops - highly recommended for anybody interested in the Tudors!You can follow Joanne Paul on Instagram or Threads, or visit her website at joannepaul.com .

The Burnings is the debut novel from author Naomi Kelsey, and tells the story of some of the women accused of witchcraft during a period of intense persecution in 16th century Scotland. We were lucky enough to be joined at the castle by Naomi, who told us all about the history behind the book from early modern medicine to Stuart court intrigue, her process of researching characters and other historical details, and much more. The Wizard Earl of Northumberland, one of our favourites here on the podcast, was lord of Alnwick Castle while the North Berwick witch trials were ongoing, and he is discussed in this episode as an apparent magic user who seemed to be immune from suspicion.We also talk about literary and historical inspirations with Naomi, from Tracy Borman to Terry Pratchett!You can find The Burnings in hardback or paperback now from all good bookshops and you can follow Naomi on Twitter and Instagram.If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow us too! You can find Alnwick Castle on all major social media platforms - why not leave a post to tell us you're a fan of the podcast - we'd love to read it!

What do Alnwick Castle, Chatsworth House, Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, Muncaster Castle and over 1400 other places across the UK have in common? They are all part of Historic Houses, an organisation that for over 50 years has been a voice for independent heritage.To find out more, we spoke to Historic Houses' Policy & Education Manager, Sarah Roller. Sarah explains the history of the organisation, what they do, and what makes all these great places so special - whether they are well-known or a hidden gem. She also tells us about her own fascinating role and background in history, and there are quite a few mentions of the importance of a good historic house slice of cake!If you would like to become a Historic Houses member and get, among other things, free entry to hundreds of houses, castles, and gardens - including Alnwick Castle! - visit historichouses.org .And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating or review, share with your friends (perhaps over cake), and subscribe so you don't miss any future podcasts!

It was ten years ago this summer that global hit drama Downton Abbey first filmed at Alnwick Castle, for their 2014 Christmas special. The show returned to the Castle the following summer for what would be their final episode before transferring to the big screen (and Alnwick makes a small cameo in the first Downton movie as well).To mark the anniversary of Downton Abbey at Alnwick - or Brancaster - Castle, we gathered two of our team members, Film Tour Guide Brad and Downton fan Jody, to talk all things Downton. You will hear a freewheeling conversation with memories and stories from the episodes that were filmed at Alnwick - co-host Daniel was at the Castle at the time! - discussion of favourite characters and moments and what makes Downton so special - co-host Deborah is an expert! - and even some speculation about the upcoming third movie, which sadly does not feature the Castle but that we are very excited about all the same.Do you remember watching the Alnwick Castle episodes of Downton? Were you visiting the Castle during the filming ten years ago? We would love to hear from you! Get in touch by emailing podcast@alnwickcastle.com .To hear more Brad on the Alnwick Castle podcast, check out episode 42, about the most recent film made at the Castle, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves. And for more Jody, head to episode 24, all about working at Alnwick Castle!

On Friday 11th October, Alnwick Castle welcomes historian and broadcaster Nicola Tallis to speak about her new book. Young Elizabeth is the story of the early years of Queen Elizabeth I, and is a fascinating, comprehensive biography of this part of Elizabeth's life - from the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn to her becoming the last Tudor monarch.We were lucky enough to be joined on the podcast by Nicola Tallis to tell us about the process of writing the book, her thoughts on the relationship (or not) between Anne Boleyn and Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, Elizabeth's complicated relationship with her final stepmother Katheryn Parr, and much more.You can hear Nicola speak in person about Young Elizabeth at Alnwick Castle this autumn. Please go to alnwickcastle.com or visit our page on Eventbrite to get your tickets now!Young Elizabeth is available in hardback now in all good bookshops. Or, you can pick up a copy when you attend our evening with Nicola Tallis!For more, follow Nicola on Twitter at @nicolatallis or on Instagram @historiannicola. We'd also be very happy if you followed us @alnwickcastle and @alnwickcastleofficial - and of course, if you subscribed to the podcast!

We return to the Wars of the Roses for the latest episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, for an exclusive audio tour of the new exhibition inspired by Lions of the Red Rose, the story of the Percy family and their involvement in the Wars.We were lucky enough to be shown around every part of the exhibition by Alnwick Castle Archivist Chris Hunwick, who explains the stories behind the documents on display - who they belonged to, what they mean, and how they have survived to the present day. You will hear about seals, coins, 15th century fingerprints ... and a rat named Cedric.This episode gives you a level of access to Lions of the Red Rose you won't get anywhere else. We are very grateful to Chris for his time and his incredible knowledge, and hope you enjoy it to - whether you have visited the exhibition already or not!If you plan to visit, the exhibition is found within the State Rooms of Alnwick Castle. Lions of the Red Rose, the new book by the 12th Duke of Northumberland, is available from the Castle gift shops.If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Chris, head back into our podcast archive for episode 12, about the Alnwick Castle Model, or episode 37, about the Crowns and Coronets exhibition created in 2023.

When master medieval archer Andy Rice was last on the Alnwick Castle podcast, we were introduced to some of the principles and the importance of archery in the Middle Ages. For our latest episode, Andy returned for a live interview in Artisans Courtyard - with a live audience listening in!You will hear Andy explain how the bow and its arrows were made. Continuing our 2024 theme of the Wars of the Roses, he describes how archery made a difference (or didn't) in battles like Towton in 1461. And then we get a little bit gory with the story of the arrows during the Battle of Shrewsbury - one that was fatal for Alnwick Castle's own Harry Hotspur, and one that Prince Hal, the future Henry V, survived.C/W: This last section of the episode (16:42-28:08) contains references to medieval surgery and may not be for the queasy or faint-hearted!This was a live episode recording in Artisans Courtyard, so you will also hear various background noises as Andy speaks.See Andy demonstrate the medieval longbow in person at Alnwick Castle this July and August. Check our website for all the dates and details.Finally, if you missed Andy's first podcast about archery, head into our podcast archive where you will find it and every other episode of the Alnwick Castle podcast!

We last told you all about the Alnwick Castle Library project in April this year, on episode 59 of the podcast. On that episode, we spoke to Project Conservator Ellin Belton and Household Controller Andrew Jarman and found out the plans for restoring this amazing state room within Alnwick Castle.The project has continued its progress since then, so we went back to the Library to find out the latest updates. This time, Deborah was joined by Ellin and Andrew, as well as Buildings manager for Alnwick Castle, Robin Smeaton - making his long-awaited debut on the podcast. Together, these key members of the project team tell us all about the work cleaning the Library ceiling, the discoveries made during that process, and how amazing it will look when it is revealed to people once again. We also hear news and details on the Library's silk wall hangings, its 200-year-old chandelier and the challenges of following plumbing instructions in 1899's  'The Book of the Bells and the Book of the Flues'!We recorded this episode just below the incredible Library ceiling, at the top of the scaffolding in place within the room - so you may hear background noise that reflects this.If you enjoyed the episode - please let us know! We will visit the Library again before the end of the project and if there is anything you want to know, we would love to ask your questions to the team. Thank you!

Cecily, the debut novel from Annie Garthwaite, told the story of Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, through to the triumph of her son Edward in the Battle of Towton in 1461. In her new book, 'The King's Mother', Annie follows Cecily in her new role as King's Mother to Edward - a position virtually unique in English history. But she is not the only woman vying for that position...The book is a brilliant read, and we are very lucky that Annie Garthwaite will be joining us in person at Alnwick Castle to speak about it on Tuesday 9th July.Before that, our host Deborah spoke to Annie about the book, how she approached the history of the Wars of the Roses, and her depictions of Cecily, Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort. You will also get an exclusive sneak preview as Annie reads a short excerpt from 'The King's Mother'.The book will be available from all good bookshops from Thursday 11th July. If you want to get hold of a copy two days before publication, tickets for our evening with Annie Garthwaite are available now - check alnwickcastle.com or visit our EventBrite page for all the details!

In our silliest, most anarchic episode yet, the Alnwick Castle Podcast has crossed over with the Silly History Boys Show! This band of hilarious historical performers will be joining us at Alnwick Castle this May half term holiday (and again later in the summer) for a series of brilliant interactive shows... so our hosts Daniel and Deborah met Tombo, Billbo and Uncle Bob-Bob (a.k.a Tom, Will and Rob) to find out just how silly history can be.In the interview - which you'll join in media res, another first for us! - you will find out how the Silly History Boys work, learn new words like "funducation" and "mythtory", and get a preview of just how the group will recreate the entire Wars of the Roses in half an hour when they appear at Alnwick Castle.The Silly History Boys Show is available on all major podcast platforms - we recommend giving it a listen. We also suggest you see them in person this half term, and this summer, at Alnwick - check our website for all the dates.And if you found this episode funducational, please share it and recommend it to your friends!

2024 sees the undertaking of a huge project within the Library of Alnwick Castle. Created to house the collection of 14,000 books in the 19th century, in recent years the Library has been a main living space for the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and their family - as well as a favourite room for many of our visitors (and staff). This year, it is being transformed, and conserved from top to bottom, in preparation for the family returning to live in the castle over the winter months.To find out more about the project, Deborah spoke to Ellin Belton, the Project Conservator, and Andrew Jarman, Household Controller for the Duke and Duchess. They explain the thinking behind the project, the work that goes into the smallest of details, and the amount of scaffolding required to reach the beautiful carved ceiling of the Library - as well as much more.We hope to return to the Library later this year for an update on the project, but if you would like to find out more, visitors to Alnwick Castle can still visit the room during our open season, where you might see Ellin and her team at work!If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by leaving us a five-star rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Every April, we like to devote an episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast to William Shakespeare, so as part of our 2024 series of podcasts about the Wars of the Roses, we thought this year's edition could focus on how Shakespeare treated this part of English history in his plays.We were joined once again by expert and scholar Ronan Paterson to discuss the sources Shakespeare used for his histories - from Richard II to Richard III via several Henrys - and many other things, including the character of Richard III (and how he differs from the historical figure), the women in the plays like Joan of Arc and Margaret of Anjou, and why the Henry VI plays deserve a better reputation within the Shakespeare canon. Naturally, the Percy family turn up too, as the Earls of Northumberland play a role in Shakespeare's retelling of the Wars of the Roses, just as they did in reality.If you enjoyed this episode, there are two more Shakespearean podcasts to enjoy - look for episode 8 and episode 33 in our podcast feed!(And please do leave a positive review or five-star rating on your podcast platform. Every one helps!)

Since his last appearance on the Alnwick Castle Podcast a year ago, one of our favourite regular guests Bill Openshaw has released his first book! To The Call Of Bugles explores the full history of the Percy Tenantry Volunteers, the army based at the Castle and around the north east over 200 years ago to defend it from invasion by Napoleon.Bill joined our hosts Deborah and Daniel once again on this episode, alongside fellow PTV enthusiast Nick Lewis, to tell us some of his favourite stories from the book, new discoveries he has made, and to give us a preview of what visitors to Alnwick Castle might expect to see this year - regular appearances, demonstrations and performances by Percy Tenantry Volunteers reenactors, including Bill himself!Check our website alnwickcastle.com for full dates of all our PTV days in 2024.If you want more about the Percy Tenantry, we highly recommend picking up a copy of To The Call Of Bugles, available now from online retailers and the Alnwick Castle gift shops. Bring it on your visit and Bill might just sign it!You can also go back into our podcast archive and find episode 9, 'The Percy Tenantry Volunteers', or episode 32, 'The 2nd Duke of Northumberland' to learn more.

Throughout the medieval period (and beyond), the jester was an important - and often hilarous - figure in the royal courts of England, and the art of being a fool has not been forgotten! In this episode of the podcast, our hosts Deborah and Daniel speak to Tom Fool, one of the finest silly people working today, to find out how he got into his stilt-walking, fire-breathing, fruit-throwing profession. You will hear about the history of the fool, from Henry II to Henry VIII, and what to expect if you visit Alnwick Castle this Easter and see Tom Fool perform his brilliant shows.For full details on when Tom is appearing at Alnwick Castle, please visit our website. You can also hear him on the Silly History Boys podcast, available from all good providers.If you found this podcast side-splitting, please let us know by leaving a five-star review or rating wherever you get your podcasts!

Lions of the Red Rose is a brand new book exploring the history of the Wars of the Roses by focusing on members of the Percy family - the 2nd Earl of Northumberland, his four warrior sons, and their surviving heir, battling through some of the most brutal and violent decades of British history.The book, which also includes beautifully produced illustrations and maps by Peter Phillips, as well as images of incredible surviving documents from the Alnwick Castle archive, was written by His Grace the 12th Duke of Northumberland.  The Alnwick Castle Podcast was able to speak with him about the process behind writing the book, his thoughts on his warring Percy family ancestors, from whom he can trace direct descent, and the most interesting discoveries he made in researching Lions of the Red Rose.The book will be available from this year from the Alnwick Castle gift shops, and is accompanied by a new exhibition, also called Lions of the Red Rose.The previous book by the Duke of Northumberland, Lions of the North, is also available to buy now.For more on the Percys and the Wars of the Roses, please check out our previous episode, which offers a brief introduction to the subject. Look out for future podcasts covering the new exhibition and more as we spend 2024 sharing the story of the Lions of the Red Rose.

In 2024, the Alnwick Castle Podcast will feature a series of episodes focusing on the Wars of the Roses, the violent, decades-long struggle for the English crown in the 15th century, in which the Percy family and Alnwick Castle played a part. These podcasts will be part of a variety of events and visitor activities based on the Wars of the Roses, tying in with the release of Lions Of The Red Rose, a new book on the subject by the 12th Duke of Northumberland.To get the series started, our hosts Daniel and Deborah take you on a brief journey through the Wars of the Roses, summarising the Percy family involvement from start to finish. In future podcasts, you will hear from our archivist about the upcoming Lions of the Red Rose exhibition, from authors and other experts, and much more. Visit Alnwick Castle this year and you will get to experience the story and this part of British history in person!

On Saturday 25th May, author, medical historian and TikTok sensation Suzie Edge will be appearing in person at Alnwick Castle to talk about her latest book, Vital Organs: A History of the World's Most Famous Body Parts. You can get your tickets now from alnwickcastle.com .As a preview for the event, Suzie returned to the Alnwick Castle Podcast to talk all things body parts with our hosts Deborah and Daniel. From the various medical problems of royals like Louis XIV of France and Charles II of Spain, to the surgical innovations that came from different body parts, we cover all kinds of gruesome - and fascinating - stories from across history.Vital Organs is out now from all good bookshops - or you can purchase a copy signed by Suzie Edge at our event on Saturday 25th May.If you missed her first appearance on the podcast, talking about her debut book Mortal Monarchs, look for episode 28 in our back catalogue. Thank you for listening!

Formerly belonging to King Louis XIV and displayed in his palace at Versailles, the huge cabinets known as the Cucci Cabinets are two of the most important pieces of furniture in the world - and if you have visited the State Rooms at Alnwick Castle, you will have seen them on display in the Drawing Room.To find out more about these two stars of the castle collection, our podcast hosts Deborah and Daniel spoke to cabinetmaker and conservator Yannick Chastang, who worked for eighteen months on the Cucci Cabinets to preserve them for the future. We spoke with Yannick for nearly an hour on the full history of the cabinets and how they came from Versailles to Alnwick; how they were made, the decorative techniques that make them so special, and what they were used for; and his own part in the history of these objects.Make sure to ask about the Cucci Cabinets on your next visit to Alnwick Castle so you don't miss them - and if you enjoyed the episode please let us know with a rating or review on your podcast platform!

Following the Battle of Dunbar in early September 1650, thousands of Scottish prisoners of war were marched south to Durham Cathedral. On their way, they were kept overnight at Alnwick Castle.In the first Alnwick Castle Podcast of 2024, hosts Deborah and Daniel find out more about the prisoners, how we know they were at the Castle, and what ultimately happened to them. We spoke to Megan Olshefski, a scholar and researcher whose work has tracked surviving Dunbar prisoners from Durham and across the Atlantic to the American colonies where they lived out their days.It was especially interesting to talk to Megan, as in September 2023, she recreated the march from Dunbar to Durham - even camping out overnight in the grounds of Alnwick Castle! We find out all about what it was like to retrace these historical footsteps.You can find Megan on Twitter @meganolshefski.If you are new to the Alnwick Castle Podcast - welcome! There are 50 other episodes in our back catalogue to enjoy. If you liked this one, please subscribe so you don't miss any future pods, and please share us with your friends.Special thanks to tech wizard Peter Johnson for salvaging this episode after our recording equipment went awry!

The Alnwick Castle Podcast is 50 episodes old! To celebrate making it to 50 podcasts, and because it is almost Christmas... we have devoted this special episode to some of the questions you have asked about Alnwick Castle - some of the most popular questions that are often asked about the castle itself and its history. Our hosts Deborah and Daniel tackle these questions and do their best to answer them, from favourite rooms and items in the collection to the age of the castle and whether it ever really had a Great Hall.A technical note: we had some trouble with a microphone cable during recording, and so you may notice some variation in volume when Daniel is speaking.We make reference during this episode to several of our previous 49 podcasts. If you haven't heard them already, do go back and listen to:Episode 2 - for general castle historyEpisode 5 - for more on the 1st Duchess of NorthumberlandEpisodes 8 and 33 - for more on Harry HotspurEpisodes 10 and 36 - for more on Syon HouseEpisode 22 - for more on the Wizard EarlEpisode 27 - for more on Thomas Percy and Treason: The MusicalEpisode 29 - for more on the collectionsEpisode 46 - for our interview with Tracy BormanThe Alnwick Castle Podcast is taking a short break after this episode, but will be back in January 2024 for episode 51. We hope you will join us then - and for the next 50 episodes (fingers crossed!)

People have practiced archery for thousands of years, and it has been part of life at Alnwick Castle since the very beginning, from the death of Harry Hotspur via arrow in 1403, to the local archers gathered by the 5th Earl of Northumberland in 1514, to the modern day when visitors to the Castle can have a go at archery with our trained instructors.To find out more about archery, our hosts Daniel and Deborah spoke to master longbowman Andy Rice, who told us all about the importance of archery in the medieval period, the equipment archers needed in the Middle Ages, and his own background as a demonstrator of historical archery. We were also joined by one of the Castle archers, Kathryn, who compared notes with Andy on the differences between what she teaches and how it would have been done centuries ago.We hope you enjoyed this episode, and did not 'play fast and loose'* with the skip button. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts, and remember to send us your Alnwick Castle questions at podcast@alnwickcastle.com for our 50th episode, out in two weeks!*this will make sense when you hear the episode...

This episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast looks a little more into the academic side of castles and their heritage, as hosts Daniel and Deborah are joined by Iain Wheeldon, senior lecturer in the School of Arts and Cultures at Newcastle University.Daniel spoke to Iain about the issues facing the cultural sector right now, the importance of castles to the heritage of Northumberland, and what exactly the difference is between heritage and history.Iain also told us about the Cultural Peeps careers pathway project, a podcast series which features professionals from across the sector sharing their career journeys and insights. If you are trying to get into the world of museums, galleries, heritage, arts or culture, we recommend listening to the series - you can find Cultural Peeps on Soundcloud, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.We recorded in our usual spooky castle tower room, so you may hear some echo.Our own 50th episode is approaching quickly, and we want to feature YOUR questions. If there is anything you want to know about Alnwick Castle, send it in to podcast@alnwickcastle.com and we might feature it in the episode!

What is a scriptorium? What was needed to make books in medieval Europe? What makes a manuscript illuminated? These are some of the questions we explore on the latest episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast.Hosts Deborah and Daniel welcome back Karen Slade (or Kate Tiler, depending when in history you are!) from the Company of Artisans to tell us all about the sciptoriums where medieval books were created. She explains how the written word was transformed into art, and how books became holy objects. We find out about the process of creating inks and colours, the people and the skills involved - as well as why it was so difficult to make the colour blue, what a waferer was, and how the artist JMW Turner carried on the tradition of the scriptorium and illuminated letters.We hope you enjoy the episode. If there is anything you want to know about Alnwick Castle, please email us on podcast@alnwickcastle.com and ask - we'll feature some of your questions on our 50th episode this December!

We were thrilled to host historian and broadcaster Tracy Borman at Alnwick Castle this summer to speak about her new book Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History - and even more thrilled that Tracy joined us for a special episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast.Hosts Daniel and Deborah spoke with Tracy for nearly an hour about the reasons and background behind the book, the new ways of looking at such a familiar subject, the personal side of historical public figures and the rehabilitation of Anne Boleyn (as well as her connection with Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland). Aside from Anne and Elizabeth, we also talked about Tracy's other books, witches and witch hunts, her historical holy grail, King Henry III's polar bear, what it's like exploring the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, and what not to do if you want to stay on the good side of the famous Tower ravens!Daniel and Deborah were recording in an echoey castle room for this episode, so you may notice a difference in their sound quality at times - we've done our best to minimise this in the edit.You can catch Tracy Borman on tour around the country this year - check her website and social media for full details.The new series of Inside the Tower of London featuring Tracy will be broadcast later in 2023.Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I is available now in hardback from all good bookshops.Deborah and Daniel had so much fun talking to Tracy, this ended up being the longest episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast to date! Please share this episode with your friends if you enjoyed it - and send in your Alnwick Castle questions to podcast@alnwickcastle.com to feature on our upcoming 50th episode!

As it is the month of October, with Halloween coming up, we wanted to bring you an episode full of the strangest, spookiest stories connected with Alnwick Castle. Did the 1st Duchess of Northumberland see a ghost when she visited a haunted house in 1762? Was the town of Alnwick plagued by a real vampire? What was so suspicious about the death of the 8th Earl of Northumberland? And how did the Castle end up with the beard of Henry IV, taken from his skeleton centuries after his burial?These are the questions - and we invited resident Castle storytellers Sean Kenney and Melanie Dagg to perform these stories for you, before hosts Deborah and Daniel reveal the truth behind the mystery. We hope you have fun - but don't have nightmares!If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know with a positive rating or review. We would also love to hear the questions you would like answered about Alnwick Castle. Email podcast@alnwickcastle.com and we will feature them on our upcoming 50th episode!

The music of the Tudor period - songs and instrumental pieces that would have been performed at the royal courts of Henry VIII or Elizabeth I, and heard by people like the Percy Earls and Countesses of Northumberland - is beautiful, fascinating and often haunting. This August at Alnwick Castle, we welcomed The Tudor Songbook, also known as singer Jay Britton, to perform Tudor music for visitors. Podcast hosts Deborah and Daniel (and special guest interviewer Karina, one of our resident historical Artisans) spoke to Jay and her lutenist Fabio Fernandes after their weekend of performances. We heard about the importance of music to the Tudors, the intricacies of lute playing, what it is like singing songs that were composed by Henry or admired by Anne Boleyn, the historically accurate costumes Jay wears to perform and more.And as a special bonus, you'll hear passages from three pieces of Tudor music, performed specially for the Alnwick Castle Podcast by Jay and Fabio!Find The Tudor Songbook @thetudorsongbook on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.We hope you enjoyed this episode - please give us a positive review and rating on your podcast platform if you did. And don't forget to send us your Alnwick Castle questions for our upcoming 50th episode special by emailing podcast@alnwickcastle.com !

Have you been enjoying watching tennis this summer, like Wimbledon or the US Open? Have you ever thought about how tennis was played centuries ago? Then this episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast is for you! Host Deborah spoke to award-winning researcher Selene, who has been thoroughly exploring the game of "real tennis" in the early modern period and how it relates to ideas of masculinity at the time. What does this have to do with Alnwick Castle? Through podcast favourite Henry Percy, the Wizard Earl of Northumberland, who was a keen tennis player and a big fan of the sport! Selene goes into detail about his plans for a tennis court at Syon House as well as other connections he had.You will also hear about the different ways tennis was played and perceived in the 1500s and 1600s, the records and sources used to find out about it, and more of the famous players like Henry VIII, James VII & II and Mary, Queen of Scots.CONTENT NOTE: From 25:00 - 28:00 there is discussion of an early modern play which features sexual innuendo and language about tennis.We hope you enjoy the episode. If there's anything you'd like to know about Alnwick Castle, please let us know and we'll answer your questions on our upcoming 50th episode! You can email us on podcast@alnwickcastle.com .

If you are a keen cinemagoer, you might have caught Alnwick Castle featuring in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves on the big screen this spring. Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant, the movie is now available on streaming as well as DVD and Blu Ray, and used the Castle as a filming location.To mark its release, our hosts Deborah and Daniel spoke to a group of Alnwick Castle staff with a connection to Dungeons & Dragons. Brad and Callum, who both lead film location tours of the Castle, worked on the film crew. Charlotte, another of our Film Tour team, actually appeared in the film as 'Female Labourer 1'. And finally, Michelle, whose love for D&D led her to create interactive theatre show 'Roll For Initiative'.There is some discussion of the characters from the film, and of scenes that were shot at Alnwick Castle. The only plot spoiler to look out for is from 9:24 - 9:36, but if you want to go into the film knowing absolutely nothing - please do watch it first, and then listen to the episode, just to be safe!You can find more about Roll For Initiative on @rollforinitiativeshow on social media.If you enjoyed the episode, or the movie, please let us know! You can get in touch with us @alnwickcastle, or by email on podcast@alnwickcastle.com. Or, join one of our daily film tours at the Castle and let the guide know they're famous!

On Saturday 19th August this year, historian Tracy Borman will be at Alnwick Castle for a very special talk about her new book, Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History. The book explores the lives of these two important Tudor women, their legacy in the Tudor period, Elizabethan period and beyond, and their relationship and connections they made to each other. You can get tickets from alnwickcastle.com or our Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-talk-with-tracy-borman-anne-boleyn-elizabeth-i-tickets-635826091957 .As a preview for the event, Alnwick Castle Podcast hosts Daniel and Deborah discuss what they thought of the book and some of its central ideas, as well as sharing the full story of Anne Boleyn and her relationship (or was it?) with the 6th Earl of Northumberland, and the turbulent ups and downs of Percy fortunes during Elizabeth's reign as queen.We hope you enjoy the episode, and can join us this summer for an exciting Tudor weekend at Alnwick Castle!

The fortieth episode of the Alnwick Castle podcast is a special musical episode! Our hosts Deborah and Daniel have not started singing ... but they did speak to Paul and Gill, also known as Trouvere Medieval Minstrels, all about brilliant medieval music.The conversation with Paul and Gill took place within the grounds of Alnwick Castle - so you may hear various background noises throughout - where they spoke about what makes medieval music so special. You will hear about the difference between a troubadour and a trouvere, the stories of some individual medieval musicians, how music would have been an important part of life in a castle, and more.You will also get to hear selections of Trouvere performing medieval music, recorded live right here at Alnwick Castle!Find out more about Trouvere at www.medievalminstrels.com or find them on Facebook. To find out when they will next be performing here at Alnwick Castle, head to www.alnwickcastle.com .If you enjoyed this podcast, and would like some more music-themed episodes, please let us know! You can get in touch on twitter @alnwickcastle or by emailing podcast@alnwickcastle.com . Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you receive every new episode as it's released!

Bill Richmond is one of the most important figures in the history of boxing, British sport and in Black British culture. Born into slavery in America in the 1760s, when he was 13 he met Hugh Percy, the future 2nd Duke of Northumberland, who was able to arrange for Bill to be freed. In Britain, Bill received an education and a trade before entering the world of boxing - where he became a superstar.To find out more about Richmond, hosts Daniel and Deborah spoke to Luke G Williams, the author of biography Richmond Unchained. Luke explains the connection between Bill and Percy, what made him so exceptional as a boxer (and what boxing was like 200 years ago), and how Bill ended up at the 1821 coronation of George IV.We did have some technical problems in the recording of our conversation, so you may notice some issues in sound quality and sound levels. Our apologies for this, but we hope you'll still hear Luke's fascinating insights and research as clearly as possible.If you enjoyed the episode, we highly recommend picking up a copy of Richmond Unchained, available from all good bookshops and online retailers.Please subscribe to the Alnwick Castle Podcast to make sure you don't miss any future episodes. Are there any subjects you'd like us to cover on future podcasts? Email us on podcast@alnwickcastle.com to let us know what you think!

An American university... inside Alnwick Castle? This is the story of St Cloud State University from Minnesota, who have been part of life at the castle for nearly half a century. In this all-American episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, hosts Deborah and Daniel speak to Wade Sherman, with SCSU at Alnwick, to find out more.Wade talks about the history of the St Cloud connection with Alnwick, what American students do when they live in a medieval English castle, and his own story with SCSU and the castle - including his starring performance in one of Alnwick Castle's screen appearances!Find out more at https://www.stcloudstate.edu/alnwick/ .If you enjoyed this podcast - please let us know! We would love any five-star ratings or positive reviews you can leave on your podcast platform, and make sure to let your friends know too.Go Huskies!

2023 saw the launch of a brand new exhibition at Alnwick Castle. Crowns and Coronets explores the connections between the castle, the resident Percy family and royal coronations through the centuries, and on this episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, we have an exclusive, in-depth behind the scenes look at the displays. Our host Deborah walked through the exhibition with castle archivist Chris Hunwick, whose research was a vital part of bringing Crowns and Coronets to life. You will hear Chris discuss the eyewitness account of the coronation of Richard III, read from the diaries of the 1st Duchess of Northumberland, who received two invites to the coronation of George III and Queen Charlotte, and reveal the activities of the Disperser For Apparel, whose job it was to make the Wizard Earl of Northumberland look his best for the coronation of James VI & I. You'll also discover just how much work goes into creating an exhibition like this!Crowns and Coronets will be on display at Alnwick Castle in 2023 and 2024. We hope you enjoy these insights into the exhibition - whether you've visited already, plan to in the future, or are unable to do so in person.As Chris says in the episode... "was that acceptable?" If you enjoyed the podcast, please let us know! You can get in touch on Twitter @alnwickcastle, or by email on podcast@alnwickcastle.com . Subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, and leave us a positive rating or review if you can!

The Percy family - owners of Alnwick Castle for more than 700 years - had various fascinating links with the Tudor kings and queens of England, but it is at their London residence of Syon House where these connections to Tudor history become even clearer. To find out more, our hosts Deborah and Daniel spoke to Sarah Ponder from Syon House, who explained what happened to the body of Henry VIII when it rested at Syon, how the Wizard Earl of Northumberland came into possession of the house in the Elizabethan period, and its previous history as an important abbey before the Dissolution of the Monasteries.You'll hear how the Holy Maid of Kent, Elizabeth Barton, is linked to Syon Abbey, the famous portrait of Lady Jane Grey on display in the house today (and Jane's own links to Syon), and even which 'Big Bang Theory' character the Wizard Earl is most like!Syon House is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays until the end of October, with options for guided tours on some days, and park access on others. We highly recommend a visit.If you enjoyed this edition of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, please subscribe to ensure you hear every future episode. We would be grateful for any positive ratings or reviews you can leave us!

Alnwick Castle is famous for its big screen appearances like the first two Harry Potter movies and 2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, but did you know about the many times it has also featured on television? From Downton Abbey to Blackadder, the castle has made its mark on TV audiences for many years. Our hosts Daniel and Deborah introduce Daniel's conversation with James Dyer, Digital Editor-in-Chief of Empire and host of the Pilot TV Podcast, where we get into the unique appeal of Downton, as well as everything from the benefits of filming television on location to cult classics like Robin Of Sherwood to Alnwick Castle's surprising cameo appearance on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation!If you'd like to hear more from James, you can find him online at @jamescdyer. Follow Pilot TV at @PilotTVPod and, once you've subscribed to the Alnwick Castle Podcast, you can find the Pilot TV Podcast from all good pod providers.We hope you enjoy hearing about Alnwick Castle's TV history - you can find out more about everything made here at the castle by joining an Alnwick On Location tour during our opening season. Our guides would love to see you!

To mark the coronation of King Charles III this month, the Alnwick Castle Podcast is taking a brief look at coronations from history, especially those with involvement from the Percy family. Hosts Daniel and Deborah introduce the role of the 1st Earl of Northumberland and his descendants at several medieval coronations; the 1st Duke and Duchess at the coronation of George III; the 3rd Duke and his role as ambassador at a 19th century French coronation; and the family's involvement in the coronations of the 20th century.You will also hear excerpts from the diaries of the 1st Duchess, and the memoirs of novelist Victor Hugo (who remembered the Duke of Northumberland arriving in France for a coronation in 1825).If you would like to find out more about the long history of Alnwick Castle and coronations, a special exhibition about coronations - 'Crowns and Coronets' - is now open for visitors to Alnwick Castle, displaying costumes, documents and items rarely on public view.

On this special Shakespearean episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast to mark the anniversary of the Bard's birth, we welcome back Shakespeare academic and expert Ronan Paterson as our guest to tell us all about the play Henry IV Part 1, which is all about one of the most important episodes in Percy family history. Hosts Daniel and Deborah spoke to Ronan about what makes the play so fascinating to read, watch or be part of, from characters like Prince Hal, Falstaff and King Henry himself, to the characters that would have lived at or visited Alnwick Castle - the earls of Worcester and Northumberland, Harry Hotspur, and Hotspur's wife, who Shakespeare called Kate but was really called Elizabeth!If you like Shakespeare already, or you would like to learn more about his genius when it came to retelling British history, we think you'll really enjoy this episode of the podcast.For more Shakespeare discussion, head into our podcast feed and look for episode 8, 'Alnwick Castle and Shakespeare', which also features Ronan.If you enjoyed this edition of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes, give us a like, a review, a rating, or a recommendation wherever you can!

Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, was in charge of Alnwick Castle from 1787 until his death thirty years later. On this episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, hosts Daniel and Deborah speak to returning guests Bill Openshaw and Nick Lewis, both experts on the 2nd Duke, to find out all about him.Subjects covered include: Percy's early military career in the American Revolutionary War, and the friendships formed there with Native American leaders like Thayendanegea (referred to on the podcast by his Anglicised name Joseph Brant), and the freed former slave Bill Richmond; Percy's impact and legacy on Alnwick and Northumberland, from monuments built to him to his Percy Tenantry volunteer force; and his connections to everything from Portuguese military history to the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane in London.If you enjoyed hearing from Bill and Nick, we recommend going back into our podcast archive for Episode 9, all about the Percy Tenantry Volunteers.The 2nd Duke will also feature in an upcoming book by Bill, due to be released later this year.Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, we'd love to received any ratings or reviews you can leave - every positive one helps the podcast! You can also get in touch with us by emailing podcast@alnwickcastle.com or tweeting us @alnwickcastle.

This episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast follows on from Episode 30, which marked Women's History Month and International Women's Day by looking at the lives of a few significant women from the history of Alnwick Castle - please do go back and listen to that one if you haven't already.While Part 1 focused on the Norman, medieval and Tudor periods, in Part 2, host Deborah takes us from the 17th century onwards with four more remarkable women from Percy family history. You'll hear about the Stuart era spy Lucy Percy, as well as Frances, the Georgian countess who dedicated her life to being an artistic and poetic patron. We reach the 19th century with Charlotte Florentia, the 3rd Duchess of Northumberland, who was a governess to Queen Victoria. Finally, you'll hear about the contributions Helen Percy, 8th Duchess, made during the Second World War - from evacuees at Alnwick Castle to fundraising efforts for serving women.Join us again in two weeks' time as we explore another part of the castle's history. Until then, if you enjoyed this episode please let us know by leaving a five-star rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

To mark Women's History Month and International Women's Day on 8th March, our episodes of the Alnwick Castle Podcast this month are all about a few of the fascinating women who have been part of the history of the castle, and of the Percy family.  This podcast is about Percy women of the Norman, medieval and Tudor periods. Join our host Deborah as she tells the stories of Agnes and Maud, the 12th century heiresses who were able to achieve an unusual level of independence, Maud de Lucy, whose legacy can be found in the Alnwick Castle archive as well as in the carvings in its Dining Room, and Ann Somerset, the Elizabethan Countess of Northumberland who became part of a rebellion in favour of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was watched in exile by Elizabeth I's spies for the rest of her life.On the next episode, Deborah will continue the history of the Women of Alnwick Castle, looking at the 17th century onwards. We hope you'll join us again for that, but if you enjoyed today's podcast, please leave us a rating or review on your podcast platform, and let your friends know about us!