Discover the Treasures of Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is home to a remarkable collection and archive with a dramatic history of over 900 years. The Percy family have owned the property and cared for its contents for over 700 years. A wide array of artefacts conserved from its inhabitants over the years are housed within the castle's museums.
No visit is complete without exploring these fascinating displays, tucked away within the castle walls. They offer a unique glimpse into the history of Northumberland, the castle, and the people who have lived here for generations.
Whether you are looking to plan your visit and explore all the things that the castle has to see and do with your family during school holidays or you would like to include a trip as part of an educational visit, you can book your tickets online or contact one of our team who will be happy to assist you with your enquiry.
The Northumberland Collection
The collection of the Duke of Northumberland is one of the most important private collections of fine and decorative art in the United Kingdom outside the Royal Collection; it is truly ducal in proportion, scale and quality.
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Paintings
Discover an exceptional collection of paintings at Alnwick, featuring 16th-century Old Masters from the Venetian and Roman Schools, including works by Titian, Tintoretto, Guido Reni, and more. Highlights include eight landscapes by Canaletto and striking portraits by Van Dyck, Lely, and Dobson. Many pieces are part of the historic Camuccini Collection, brought from Rome in 1856 to grace Alnwick’s Italianate interiors.
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Furniture
Furniture by important 17th, 18th century and 19th century cabinetmakers is distributed throughout the State Rooms.
Highlights include two Baroque cabinets made by Domenico Cucci for King Louis XIV’s palace of Versailles in 1683; 18th century chairs and tables by John Linnell; a suite of Regency furniture by Nicholas Morel and Robert Hughes and a marquetry table by Blakes of London supplied in 1865.
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Ceramics
The collection comprises porcelain, principally of European manufacture such as Meissen, Sèvres, Paris, Chelsea and Minton, which can be seen throughout the State Rooms.
A Meissen dinner service decorated with fantastic animals, foliage and insects dating from circa 1745, is some of the earliest hard paste porcelain in Europe, and was possibly acquired by the 1st Duke of Northumberland as a raffle prize!
The Archives of the Duke of Northumberland
The Archive houses the business papers of Northumberland Estates, in addition to family papers of the Percys and records from Syon House. The Archive is privately owned and fully funded by the Percy family.
The Archive is open to the public by advance appointment bookings only. Please consult the Guide to Searchers for further details. For family history enquiries and image requests, please consult the links below.
Enquiries
Please see below for downloadable guidelines about making enquiries to the Archive:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Select Bibliography of publications relating to the history of the Percy Family and Alnwick Castle