The Alnwick Castle Podcast
Alnwick Castle is one of North East England's top visitor attractions and has been part of British history for nearly 1,000 years. Now, Alnwick Castle has a podcast! Join hosts Daniel and Deborah, and regular special guests, as they discuss fascinating aspects of Alnwick Castle's history, from the people that lived there to its connections with famous events, its place as a filming location, and more. New episodes will be available every two weeks - make sure to subscribe so you don't miss any!
The Alnwick Castle Podcast
87 - The Wizard Earl of Northumberland
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Welcome, and welcome back, to the first Alnwick Castle Podcast of 2026! Whether you are a brand new listener or you have been with us from the start, we hope you will enjoy what we have planned for the upcoming year, with new episodes arriving on the last Wednesday of every month.
We start 2026 with an in-depth biography of one of the most famous former owners of Alnwick Castle. Henry Percy, the 9th Earl of Northumberland, lived through the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods, and was connected to many of the key events and people of those times. He was also known as the Wizard Earl for his interest in science, alchemy, and magic.
On this podcast, hosts Daniel and Deborah take you through the life of the Wizard Earl, including:
His early years
His relationships with his mother Katherine and wife Dorothy
His library collection and other "bookish matters"
How he became known as the Wizard Earl, and his scientific (or magical) experiments
His famous friends, rivals and (nearly) opponents in duels
His trial following the Gunpowder Plot, and imprisonment in the Tower of London
His relationships with his children, Dorothy, Lucy and Algernon
His attitudes towards women
And what was happening at Alnwick Castle and in the north during his lifetime.
We reference several other episodes of the podcast during this biography. For more details, please go back into our catalohue and look for the following episodes:
10 - Syon House
22 - The Gunpowder Plot and Alnwick Castle
31 - Women of Alnwick Castle (Part 2)
36 - The Tudors, the Percys and Syon House
43 - The History of Tennis
45 - Strange and Mysterious Alnwick Castle Tales
72 - The Border Reivers
83 - The Stolen Crown