Report of Meetings for 188C. By J. Havdy. 399 



ALNWICK. 



The sixth meeting of the year was held at Alnwick, on the 1 3th 

 day of October, 1886. For some time the weather had been very 

 unsettled, and the day preceding the meeting was very wet and 

 stormy, which, no doubt, operated unfavourably for attendance 

 of members from a distance. Only one gentleman appeared at 

 breakfast, but as the day brightened the later trains brought an 

 increase of members. The party mustered at the Northumberland 

 Arms and were conducted by the President to the Barbican of the 

 Castle, where they were met by Colonel Holland, the constable, 

 and conducted over the castle. The Barbican built by the first 

 Lord Percy, about 1309, was deeply impressive in all its gloomy 

 strength ; and woe to the foe who would have sought an entrance 

 by that portal. On emerging from the gatehouse to the Outer 

 Court, the massive grandeur of thePrudhoe Keep, built by Duke 

 Algernon, was seen, and the eye wandered over the curtain walls 

 of the De Vesci period erected above 700 years ago — the 

 Abbot's Tower and Auditor's Tower, built by the first Lord 

 Percy; to the Clock Tower and Avener's Tower built by the 

 first Duke ; — all of which were pointed out by the President. On 

 entering the Inner Court the heavily ribbed Norman archway 

 shewed the massive strength of feudal architecture : this relic of 

 the De Vesci period was ordered to be carefully preserved by Duke 

 Algernon when he made the extensive alterations and repairs to 

 the Castle and built the Prudhoe Keep. The arch with its double 

 row of zig-zag ornament is in excellent preservation, and near to 

 it is the arcade of the draw-well. On entering Prudhoe Keep, the 

 feudal character is left behind, and going up the Grand Staircase, 

 the walls of which are composed of coloured marble, the beauty, 

 elegance, and refinement of the cinque cento Italian character is 

 exhibited. The Guard Chamber is at the head of the staircase ; 

 the flooring is a mosaic pavement of variegated marble; the ceiling 

 is of stucco work gilded ; the frieze is decorated with paintings of 

 the traditional battle of Chevy Chase. The members paused to 

 look upon the noble proportions of the Staircase, each step com- 

 posed of a single white stone 12 feet in length — then passed to the 

 Ante-room with its richly carved and gilded ceiling, thence to the 

 Library where they were delayed for some time in admiring its 

 literary treasures. The room is of noble proportions, and its lofty 

 ceiling divided into four large compartments with richly carved 

 and gilded devices representing history, poetry, art, and science. 



