SATURDAY 31 JULY 2021

Ellington, Northumberland – Alnwick, Northumberland – Ellington, Northumberland

Travel Barkers Cottage, Ellington – Alnwick

State Coach of the Duke of Northumberland, Coach House, Alnwick Castle

In origin this was a royal coach and carried the royal livery when it transported the 3rd Duke of Northumberland as King George IV’s personal representative at the coronation of Charles X of France in 1825.
In 1902 the coach was renovated, repainted and re-trimmed by W. & F. Thorn of London for use by the 7th Duke and Duchess at the coronation of King Edward VII; it now bears their coat of arms. The silver-plated gallery around the roof is in the form of crescents and fetterlocks, both Percy family badges, with a coronet at each corner.
The coach was last used by the youngest daughter of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Northumberland for her wedding at St Michael’s Church, Alnwick in 2013.

Sir Henry Percy Hotspur, The Warrior, Alnwick Castle

Harry Hotspur was born at Alnwick Castle in 1364 or 1366 and was knighted in 1377 at the time when his father was created 1st Earl of Northumberland. He was supremely powerful in combat on land and sea, though sometimes his hot-headedness could lead him into trouble.
In 1378, Hotspur led his father’s troops in an assault on Berwick following a nine day siege. Over the next few years, Hotspur gained a fearsome reputation leading lightning-quick strikes against the Scots in the borders, so much that he earned the famous nickname ‘hotspur’, or ‘haatspore’ from his foe, the Scots.