Depicted as the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and hence known, as the castle associated with Harry Potter really exists as Alnwick Castle, second only to Windsor Castle (home of the British Royal family) in size. To this day, descendants of Lord Percy of Alnwick actually live there.
Construction began on this castle in approximately 1096 by Yves de Vescy, another person who benefited from the battles fought and won by William of Normandy, also known as “William the Conqueror.” Purchased by Henry, Lord Percy, who became the First Lord of Alnwick in 1309, the first of many renovations began. Future notable residents included Harry “Hotspur,” Percy, known for his valiant performance in the Battle of Otterburn, in 1388.
The continuing travails between Great Britain and Scotland are reflected in the history of this great edifice, where it prevailed through a burning of the entire town of Alnwick in 1424, and saw its then-owner, the third Earl of Northumberland, fall in battle in 1460. Later renovations were begun in 1677 and 1750 with completion of them by 1766. The storied history of this castle continues to this day. It was used as a boarding school for girls in 1940 and opened to the touring public ten years’ later. Today, it is used for study abroad by students attending St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. It remains a very popular tourist attraction, receiving a National Visit British Excellence Award in 2007.
What better setting for Hogwarts School? Surely, if the walls could talk, there would be much to share.
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