Bondgate Tower
Tower In Alnwick, Northumberland
A 15th century gatehouse that was part of the Alnwick old town walls.
Travelling into Alnwick from the east will have you entering the town centre through the Bondgate Tower. Similar to the Pottergate Tower, it was part of the town defences and although it's called a tower it's actually a gatehouse.
Its name derives from the Bondgate Road it crosses, but locally it is also known as the Hotspur Tower or the Hotspur Gateway, named after the local legend Harry Hotspur (Sir Henry Percy), son of the 1st Earl of Northumberland.
The town wall and battlements were built by Harry Hotspur's son, the 2nd Earl of Northumberland, starting in the 1430s taking 50 years to complete it all. The Bondgate Tower was completed in 1450.
The gatehouse was one of four gates to the town with the others being the Clayport Tower, the Narrowgate Tower and the Pottergate Tower, with the latter being rebuilt and the others now demolished.
You can just see the eroded outlines of the Percy Lion on the tower.
Get 2 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 464 VIPs.
Login to bag this placeHelp fuel the next adventure
Fabulous North is free, with no annoying adverts and fuelled by an unhealthy desire to poke around castles, hills, churches and suspicious-looking bits of stone.
If you enjoy what we do, you can help keep us exploring.
Champion This Place
Got a special memory of Bondgate Tower, a story to tell or simply a soft spot for it? Champion Bondgate Tower and we'll add your name, photo and a short message to this page, while your support helps us keep Fabulous North exploring.
How To Find Bondgate Tower
Where To Park For Bondgate Tower?
Plenty of parking in Alnwick and if you drive through the tower into the town centre, then there is some disc parking right next to it.
Contributed by Simon Hawkins
Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue pele tower up a remote hill, a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.
More Places from Simon
More Places In Alnwick
Find more fabulous places in Alnwick, Northumberland and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.
Malcolm III Cross
Statue Alnwick NorthumberlandA stone cross marking where Malcolm III, King Of Scotland was slain at the Battle Of Alnwick.
Jenny’s Lantern Folly
Folly Alnwick NorthumberlandA ruin of a folly shaped like a shepherd's hut on the Alnwick moors.
Pottergate Tower
Tower Alnwick NorthumberlandOriginally part of the town's medieval defences, this tower is now a luxury holiday cottage.
More Towers
So this tower wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
Osborne's Fort
Tower Holy Island NorthumberlandA ruined fort tower on the opposite side of the harbour to Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island.
Ratcheugh Observatory
Tower Alnwick NorthumberlandA flat castle-like observatory on Ratcheugh Crag overlooking Alnwick.
Bell Tower Of St Oswald Church Kirkoswald
Tower Penrith CumbriaA stand alone bell tower for the Church of St Oswald in Kirkoswald, Cumbria.
Find Walks To Bondgate Tower
Find which walks will visit Bondgate Tower and plan your next adventure.
Alnwick Riverside And Railways
14km (9 miles) Alnwick NorthumberlandA walk from Alnwick Castle following the river Aln and then back near the old railway.
Never Miss A Fabulous Place
If you are afraid of missing out on all the fabulous places we post, or just want to be the first to know, then sign up to the Fabulous North.
Each week we will email you all the brand new places that we visit.
Sign Up To Alerts
Find Us On Facebook
We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.
Join Our Facebook GroupBondgate Tower was listed in Tower // Northumberland // Alnwick