Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland
Hosted by Professor Sally Shortall, with introduction from Professor Anya Hurlbert
Throughout the last millennium, the Percys have played pivotal roles in British history suffering imprisonment, death in battle and execution along the way. The story of Alnwick Castle, their stronghold, is equally remarkable. A Medieval fortress, warfare had left it virtually derelict by the end of the 17th Century, but it re-emerged in the 18th Century as a palatial family residence and the focus for a
large, thriving estate that remains to this day, generating revenue to restore and preserve that heritage and benefiting the local community and economy.
This lecture is based on Ralph Percy's recent book Lions of the North: The Percys & Alnwick Castle. A thousand years of history which covers the story of the Percys and Alnwick Castle since the Norman Conquest: alnwickcastle.com/shop/category/books
Biography:
Ralph Percy was born in Alnwick Castle in 1956, the fifth of seven children and only the second to be born there in 100 years. Educated at Eton College, Christchurch College Oxford (studying History) and Reading University (studying land management), he is a qualified Chartered Surveyor. Ralph married Jane in 1979 and they have four children and several dogs. He inherited Alnwick Castle and Estate from his elder brother, Harry, who died in 1995 and has have lived there ever since.
Live Q&A:
The lecture will be followed by a live Q&A with the speaker. You can submit a question during the event using YouTube Live Chat, via Twitter @InsightsNCL or by sending an email to public.lectures@ncl.ac.uk.
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Thank you for watching.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/INSIGHTSPublicLecturesNCL
Follow INSIGHTS Public Lectures on Twitter: twitter.com/InsightsNCL
Visit the INSIGHTS Public Lectures Website: ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures
Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland
Hosted by Professor Sally Shortall, with introduction from Professor Anya Hurlbert
Throughout the last millennium, the Percys have played pivotal roles in British history suffering imprisonment, death in battle and execution along the way. The story of Alnwick Castle, their stronghold, is equally remarkable. A Medieval fortress, warfare had left it virtually derelict by the end of the 17th Century, but it re-emerged in the 18th Century as a palatial family residence and the focus for a
large, thriving estate that remains to this day, generating revenue to restore and preserve that heritage and benefiting the local community and economy.
This lecture is based on Ralph Percy's recent book Lions of the North: The Percys & Alnwick Castle. A thousand years of history which covers the story of the Percys and Alnwick Castle since the Norman Conquest: alnwickcastle.com/shop/category/books
Biography:
Ralph Percy was born in Alnwick Castle in 1956, the fifth of seven children and only the second to be born there in 100 years. Educated at Eton College, Christchurch College Oxford (studying History) and Reading University (studying land management), he is a qualified Chartered Surveyor. Ralph married Jane in 1979 and they have four children and several dogs. He inherited Alnwick Castle and Estate from his elder brother, Harry, who died in 1995 and has have lived there ever since.
Live Q&A:
The lecture will be followed by a live Q&A with the speaker. You can submit a question during the event using YouTube Live Chat, via Twitter @InsightsNCL or by sending an email to public.lectures@ncl.ac.uk.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for watching.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/INSIGHTSPublicLecturesNCL
Follow INSIGHTS Public Lectures on Twitter: twitter.com/InsightsNCL
Visit the INSIGHTS Public Lectures Website: ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures
