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Visitors to Alnwick Castle may wonder about its place in the Northumbrian countryside. The Castle is not only a fantastic visitor attraction and a private home of historic interest but it also plays a role as the center of a large estate. The management of that estate is carried out from offices within the Castle.
Northumberland Estates covers about 120,000 acres of land in Northumberland, Surrey, Middlesex and Scotland.
Its business interests have evolved over time with the traditional rural enterprises of farming and forestry remaining important to the present day.
In addition to a Home Farm in Hulne Park, the Northumberland Estates comprise over 170 tenanted farms let to families some of whom have been tenants for several generations. The improvement and repair of houses, cottages and farm buildings on these arable and hill farms is ongoing.
There are also 6,000 acres of woodlands. Most of which are in small blocks and clumps that give so much variety and character to the countryside.
The blocks of young woodlands to be seen in parts of the Northumberland National Park are evidence of the Estate's long term investment; farmers gaining shelter for their stock and the nation a worthwhile contribution to the timber import bill.
In addition to the farms and woodlands the Estate is responsible for a large number of houses and cottages in 13 villages.
Many of the buildings and monuments are of historic importance. The majority of these, like Alnwick Castle, are Listed Buildings in the schedule of ancient monuments.
Ownership on a large scale over a long period has ensured high standards of management. Continuity has enabled the countryside to benefit from the balance that is struck between the many interests involved. Modern housing is provided, capital values are maintained and farmers are enabled to make reasonable profits, without which the countryside cannot be conserved.
These wide-ranging responsibilities of land ownership require the employment of a large number of local skilled people. Apart from farm and forest workers, there are craftsmen of all kinds - masons, plumbers, joiners, drainers, gamekeepers, draughtsmen, as well as accountants, electricians, surveyors and many more.
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