Alnwick Castle

I well remember visiting Alnwick Castle many years ago when the decor was much as described by the author and the Duchess as the "before" state: huge rooms, impressive furniture but all very tired and looking very sad - the corridor, now the China Corridor, with its pale green walls and exposed fluorescent lights was very memorable and incongruous. This book vividly describes how the Northumberlands have restored the castle and made it a home to live in as well as a show place for their family collections. There is just so much information especially once one gets to the upper floors and the series of guest bedrooms. The plans at the front are helpful to understanding the relative locations of the main rooms but I would have appreciated more detail and also plans of the upper floors. Disappointed to find some typographical mistakes (but not as many in the Duchess of Rutland's book on Belvoir!). Altogether a very enjoyable book, one to pore over and study the text and the wonderful photographs.

This book contains beautiful photos of the inside and outside of the castle, and layout plans before and after the several changes that were made over the centuries. The rooms are tastefully decorated and seem to have a common theme throughout, which is very nice. Even the huge library manages to look cosy, and like a place you'd really want to spend a lot of time.Then you look a little closer. The wall decorations, which I first thought were carved wood or wall paper or pieces of art, are actually hundreds of swords, horns and pistols. The new cemetery has new wrought iron gates that would be at home in Middle Earth. It's a good thing they have the new cemetery, too, because they also have a Poison Garden (also with impressive wrought iron gates). They grow plants that produce cocaine, ricin, canabis, etc. Hum?But not all the dead get into the cemetery. The Duchess is into taxidermy. The dogs lounging in front of the fireplaces are actually stuffed, dead dogs. Then there's the stuffed rat under glass. And of course, various birds sitting on mantlepieces and perched on the hanging lamps that look like birdcages. Not to mention the giant shark's head in the daughter's girly, pink bedroom.So yes, I enjoyed this book.

Wonderful!

Excellent. Has helped in my role as a guide. Some facts not totally accurate. Good quality photos. Interesting to read.

A thorough and fascinating look into the history of a famous stately home which is apparently still thriving, and making progress. Slight quibble over proofreading of text, a few silly errors, but otherwise a great book with fantastic photography.

Good book if you want information on the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and their home. Good value too.

Fantastic book about a wonderful castle with a long history. Beautifully illustrated and written with many interesting facts. History brought to life.

I bought this as a gift. There was excellent communication, great service. Item received quickly and in excellent condition. Its a wonderful book of a wonderful castle which my family love.