174 COMMITTEER’S ADDRESS. 
a third isolated position. These had all fallen into decay, and 
were removed prior to the renovation in 1764. 
A century ago, in the fashion set by Horace Walpole, at 
Strawberry Hill, the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland 
re-modelled Alnwick Castle. The keep—until then, separate 
towers, furnishing separate lodgings—was consolidated into suites 
of large apartments, leading through one to another. Three only 
of the ancient towers were retained; the octagon towers and that 
containing the great hall, which latter was converted into a dining 
room. The ceilings of the new apartments were formed of plaster 
fan-tracery of a highly ornate character, the window openings 
were filled with pointed-headed sash-windows, the chamber doors 
were headed with four-centred arches and decorated with mould- 
ings following the same outline. Although these decorations 
have been removed, and Strawberry Hill has been dismantled, 
their type is still in existence, for one room in the castle 
has been retained as a souvenir, and the chancel of St. Mary’s 
Church, Alnwick, embellished at the same time in the same 
style, may be fitly regarded asa monument to the memory 
of the earliest manifestations of the revival of an appreciation of 
Medieval art. An examination of the second plan will afford a 
realization of the alterations that were made at this period in the 
keep. These were, besides, the Record Tower, the Caterer’s 
Tower, and Water Tower built on the line of circumvallation: 
the fallen Ravine Tower removed, and the line of wall carried 
over its site—the new patch of masonry being known as the 
Bloody Gap; and a large group of new kitchens built upon the 
bank of the moat, on the south side of the castle. These reno- 
vations and additions were considered very handsome at the time 
of their consummation, but they perpetuated two faults—apart 
from the style in which they were executed. The towers of the 
keep were of one height, spiritless and uniform, the state cham- 
bers had no access, save by traversing each to gain the next. 
