Harry Potter and Alnwick Castle

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Fans of Harry Potter will remember when Harry made his first broomstick flight from the Hogwart’s lawn.Well for the film location they chose Alnwick Castle.

In fact the Castle was used for both these films

2002 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint; directed by Chris Columbus

and

2001 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint; directed by Chris Columbus

You can see a picture of the Hogwart’s lawn, here (Alnwick Castle), however if you would like to visit the castle then there is rental accomodation available nearby.

Film buffs might also be interested to know that Alnwick Castle was also used for the following films with a quite distinguished list of actors and actresses over the years.

998 - Monk Dawson
Starring Rhona Mitra alongside Martin Kemp. Tom Waller as director

1998 - Elizabeth
Starring Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, and Christopher Eccleston; a Working Title production

1991 - Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
Alan Rickman and Kevin Costner starred

1982 - Ivanhoe
Starring James Mason alongside Anthony Andrews

1979 - The Spaceman and King Arthur
Starring Kenneth More and Jim Dale, and produced by Walt Disney

1971 - Mary Queen of Scots
Glenda Jackson and Vanessa Redgrave were the stars with direction from Hal Wallis

1964 - Becket
Starring Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, and produced by Hal Wallis

Perhaps we should also say a little about the history of the Castle.

Yves de Vescy built the earliest parts of the Castle in 1096. This was only 30 years after the battle of Hastings. If it helps to put the age of this magnificent castle into perspective then remember that it was built about a generation before the birth of Ghengis Khan!

The Castle has a truly unique atmosphere. Part of this is probably attributable to its age but also there is the architecture and layout. The high walls with their carved stone figures create a strange, otherworldly atmosphere and you can begin to understand why moviemakers so favour this Castle.

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