The Vampire of Alnwick
Alnwick is a lovely place to visit and it's castle is a stunning example of a post Norman Conquest building dating from the 12th Century.
Alnwick is not pronounced as it looks, the L and the W are silent, so it is said ANNICK
The Origin Story
This story begins with a man who was said to serve the Lord of Alnwick. However, he was not a nice person and as often happens in cases such as these his poor long suffering wife looked elsewhere for comfort.
This wicked man was very suspicious of his wife and was determined to catch her and her lover in the act. So, he hid himself in the rafters of his bedroom and waited.
Unfortunately, when he saw his wife and another man together, the shock of it caused him to fall out of the rafters and he either died of his injuries or broke his neck outright. Not sure what happened to his wife but she probably lived happily ever after.
He was buried in the local graveyard and even though he was laid to rest it appeared that he was not content to do so. Soon people began to see him wandering through the dark streets at night. The story goes, that his appearances also coincided with a devastating plague......he was of course blamed for it.
A mob decided to dig up his remains and to their horror found his body in perfect condition and not decomposed at all. They chopped his head off, and he bled. Apparently " so engorged with blood was he" that it was decided that he must have been drinking the blood of others all along.
His body was dismembered and burned, and almost immediately after he was destroyed the plague lifted and there were no more deaths.
Key Locations
Alnwick is a historic market town in Northumberland, famous for its medieval castle, beautiful gardens, and literary landmarks. This wonderful historic town has something for everyone, and more.
Alnwick
Alnwick Castle is where centuries of history meet unforgettable adventure. Wander along ancient battlements and immerse yourself in over 900 years of stories brought to life through exhibitions, interpretation and live entertainment.
Alnwick Castle
One of the largest second-hand bookstores in the UK, set in a grand Victorian railway station where the original "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was rediscovered. This is a must see for any book lover.
Barter Books
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