Cherie's Place » The Percy Lion

Warkworth Castle – The Lion Tower

CherryPie — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:09:04 +0000

The Lion Tower was built by the fourth earl of Northumberland in about 1480 and was the main porch to the new bailey residence.

Its spectacular display of heraldic sculpture celebrated his dynastic prowess. Symbolic of the Percy family is the great lion over the door. Above this helm with a ‘cap of estate’ and crest, respectively expressing the rank and identity of the wearer. Around the helms are representations of mantling, or decorative swathes of cloth. One of the badges at the top of the tower has tentatively been identified as the padlock of fetterlock of the house of York. If so, this would date the porch to before the Tudor victory at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

The third picture shows the Percy Lion whose collar displays the family war-cry. ‘Espurance’, meaning ‘ hope’. Above the lion to the left is depicted, the arms of Percy ‘ancient’, abandoned by the family in 1343, when the seal bearing these arms was smashed at Warkworth. Above the lion to the right are the three ‘luces’, or fishes, of the arms of the Lucy family which are a play on their name. The Percys inherited substantial estates from the Lucys in the 1380s.*

*Information taken from the English Heritage guidebook.

The Percy Lion

CherryPie — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:30:27 +0000

The Lion Bridge at Alnwick spans the river Aln and was built in 1770 to replace an earlier bridge which had been destroyed by flooding. It gets it’s name from the sculpture of the Percy Lion which is situated on the bridge. The Percy Lion was made in 1773 by John Knowles and is distinctive for its long straight tail. It is formed around cast lead and situated on a sandstone plinth forming part of the bridge.

When I viewed the Lion Bridge from the castle, I thought it would be nice to get a close-up photograph of the Lion. As I approached around the corner onto the bridge I got a shock; it looked rather like the Lion had had an umbrella stuck up his bum! I am not sure what caused the damage, but it gave me a challenge trying to get some decent photos…

A Bit of a Laugh

CherryPie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:47:33 +0000

You are on a horse riding away.
On the left side is a long drop.
On the right is an Elephant going at the same speed.
In front is a Kangaroo which you can’t pass.
Behind is a Lion.
How do you get out of this dangerous situation?

Highlight for the answer: Get off the kids roundabout and start acting your age!!!