The Alnwick Castle Podcast

This September at Alnwick Castle, we are hosting a Northumbrian Piping Weekend, celebrating this traditional musical instrument of Northumberland. To find out more about what will be happening, we spoke to Andrew Davison, who currently holds the position of Piper to the Duke of Northumberland.
Andrew tells us what it means to be a ducal piper (including his role in Alnwick's famous Shrove Tuesday Football matches), what makes the Northumbrian pipes unique, and some of his own history of piping as well as the stories of some of his predecessors like the notorious Jimmy Allen. 
You will also hear two selections of Northumbrian pipe music, played by Andrew and Nicola Davison and recorded live during a recent performance within the State Rooms at Alnwick Castle.
If you enjoyed the episode, please join us for our Piping Weekend on 19 and 20 September! You can also hear more about the history and traditions of Northumbrian piping at Alnwick Castle by finding episode 25 of this podcast, recorded with the previous Duke's Piper, Richard Butler.

Have you heard the story of Henry Hugh Manvers Percy? This 19th century member of the Percy family won a Victoria Cross for his actions in the Battle of Inkerman, one of the crucial fights during the Crimean War, and his story is told in the book 'A Bearskin's Crimea' by Algernon Percy, newly re-released in an expanded an illustrated edition.
We are joined by the author on this episode of the Alnwick Castle Podcast, where he explains who Henry Percy was, some of his actions in the Crimea, and the origins of the Victoria Cross, among many other things. If you are interested in this period of history, this episode and the book are definitely for you; and if you have not heard anything about the Crimean War beyond names like Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole or the Charge of the Light Bridge, well, we hope this episode and the book are for you too!
You can get a copy of 'A Bearskin's Crimea' now. Buy directly from Alnwick Castle at alnwickcastle.com/shop , or you can also order it online through Waterstones.
And don't forget to look out for Henry Percy's sword on display in the State Rooms next time you visit Alnwick Castle!

Marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and continuing our theme from the last podcast, this month we are looking at some of the connections Alnwick Castle has had with the United States across history.
In this episode, you will hear the stories of George Percy, one of the first English settlers in Virginia; the illegitimate son of the 1st Duke of the Northumberland whose money helped to create a world-famous institution in America; Eustace Percy, who worked in Washington DC during the First World War; and three modern American icons who visited Alnwick Castle or with whom its owners shared a historic moment.
We hope you enjoy this special USA-themed podcast. For more American links, try our most recent episode inspired by the new exhibition at Alnwick Castle, "Earl Percy and the American Revolutionary War".
The US flag has 50 stars ... we would be very grateful if you borrowed five and gave The Alnwick Castle Podcast a five-star review!

Marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, this year Alnwick Castle features a brand new exhibition for visitors to see. "The Shot Heard Round The World: Earl Percy and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)" tells the story of the American war of independence from the perspective of Hugh Percy, known at the time as Earl Percy, who was there fighting on the British side.
Percy arrived in Boston in 1774, saw action in some of the earliest fighting of the American Revolution and continued his role through 1776 in New York before returning to England in 1777. To tell us more about Earl Percy and the American Revolutionary War, we asked our archivist Chris Hunwick to show us around the exhibition for the podcast!
From Chris, you will hear about how the exhibition came together, and get an in-depth exploration of the contents. Chris gives us exclusive insights and readings into many of the documents and items on display, from a sketch map believed to be the first made of the war, to 18th century dollar bills, to Percy's logbooks and letters home. 
Use this podcast as an audio guide if you visit the exhibition, or as a way to experience it from wherever you are in the world! If you come to Alnwick Castle in 2026, you will find the exhibition in the Breakfast Room, with other connected displays throughout the State Rooms.
We would love to hear what you think. Email podcast@alnwickcastle.com or leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Work In A Castle is the brand new platform for heritage careers from Historic Houses, where you can go to find out about the amazing, and very varied, job roles that a place like Alnwick Castle can offer. As a member property of Historic Houses, we are excited to be part of the platform, and to find out more, we spoke to Sarah Roller, Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the association.
Sarah talks about what makes working in a historic place so special, the unexpected pathways a heritage career can take, and her own way into the sector. If you are interested in working at a castle, or a palace, or a stately home, or a historic garden ... this may be the podcast episode for you!
To find out more, visit workinacastle.com or follow Work In A Castle on Instagram or LinkedIn.
To hear more about the work Historic Houses do, please head into our podcast back catalogue and find episode 67, where you'll find Sarah's first appearance on the pod!