Castles began to become popular around 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded England. By 1100 there were more than 500 castles and one of these was Alnwick Castle. “Alnwick Castle was built in 1096 on the summit of the southern bank of the Aln, on a plateau of 5 acres of land, surrounded by strong fortifications, defended by sixteen towers, and divided into two great baileys, with the keep in the middle ” (Alnwick Medieval). Located in Northumberland, England and built by Yves de Vescy, the then Baron of Alnwick, it is historically significant because "it is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and was the home of the Duke of Northumberland's family, the Percys for 700 years." of drama, intrigue, tragedy and romance” (History of the Castle). Alnwick Castle shows how much it has changed since then, the kind of history it had, what castles were used for then and what it contributes and is used for now in Northumberland, England. The first inhabitant of Alnwick Castle was Yves de Vescy, the then Baron of Alnwick. “He is said to have died at least a year before the first written record of the construction in 1134” (Alnwick Haunted). After his death he passed Alnwick to his only heir and daughter, Beatrix. Beatrix married Eustace Fitzjohn. He was given the title Baron of Alnwick and received the rights to the castle along with its estates. He handed the castle over to King David I of Scotland in 1138. After the Battle of the Standard, Eustace regained the rights to Alnwick and then continued to expand and improve the castle. When Eustace died in 1157, his son, William, succeeded him as Baron of Alnwick and took the name de Vescy. William de Vescy died in 1184, and the cast... in the center of the sheet......ed "Alnwick Castle". Haunted castles and hotels. Network. 13 September 2011. .“Alnwick Castle”. Medieval castles. Network. 13 September 2011. "Alnwick Castle: some history and photographs". Index. Network. 13 September 2011. "Castle History - Alnwick Castle - The Percy family, the earls and dukes of Northumberland". Welcome to Alnwick Castle, where history lives. Network. 02 October 2011. .Hind, Kathryn. Life in the Middle Ages. New York: Benchmark, 2001. Print Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh and Christopher Simon Sykes. Great Houses of England and Wales. London: Laurence King, 2000. Print. Welcome to Alnwick Castle: where history lives. Network. 05 November. 2011. .