Malcolm III Cross

If you're in Alnwick visiting the spectacular Alnwick Castle, or taking a stroll around Hulne Park to see the Brizlee Tower or even having a quick gander at St. Leonards Hospital Chapel, then why not also take in Malcolm III's cross.

The cross supposedly marks the spot where King Malcolm III of Scotland was killed at the Battle Of Alnwick, however, the spring at the chapel also claims this too. Maybe he was fatally wounded at one and then died at the other. Who knows!

For those of you who were forced to do GCSE English Literature, then there is a high probability that you would have studied Macbeth. If you remember at the start of the book, Macbeth decided to kill King Duncan in order to take the throne and Duncan's children fled to England. Well Malcolm was one of Duncan's bairns. Shakespeare may have sprinkled a bit of artistic licence, so let's set the story straight.

Duncan did indeed die in battle by the men of Moray led by Macbeth and then his young son Malcolm was hastily sent away for his own safety and probably ended up probably at the court of the Siward of Northumberland as he was related to his mother.

After biding his time, Malcolm defeated and killed Macbeth the Battle of Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire. Macbeth's step son took the throne, but Malcolm killed him too becoming King of the Scots in 1058.

Malcolm was also known as Malcolm Canmore, which translates from Gaelic to big head, how nice! Maybe that title was appropriate as he was intent on expanding Scotland's frontier and invaded Northumberland at least five times, one of them resulting in a backlash from the English king William the Conqueror.

His final battle came when he invaded Northumberland just outside Alnwick Castle in what is now known as the Battle Of Alnwick.

Robert de Mowbray (have a google of this character!), Earl of Northumbria and governor of Bamburgh Castle, had a much smaller force than Malcolm's army so couldn't face him in open battle. So instead he ambushed the Scottish army before the ramparts of Alnwick, killing both Malcolm and his son.

Doing a bit more research, it does appear that he died at the spring (called Malcolm's Well) near St. Leonard's Hospital, so maybe he was fatally wounded here. Careful as you go as lots of brambles and nettles around here.

The chapel of St Leonard's hospital is just a few minute walk from the cross so have a wander over while you're here.