Bondgate Tower also known as the Hotspur Tower or the Hotspur Gateway in reference to Sir Henry Percy (commonly known as Harry Hotspur), son of the 1st Earl of Northumberland and father of the 2nd Earl of Northumberland. Although commonly called a tower it is actually a gatehouse. It has three storeys constructed of stone and consists of a recessed archway flanked by two polygonal towers. It is located in Alnwick, Northumberland in the United Kingdom. The gatehouse straddles Bondgate (the B6346), the main road of Alnwick. Low traffic can pass though its entrance while tall vehicles must take diversions to get past. A licence was granted in 1434 by Henry V to Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland to wall the town and add battlements.[3] These took fifty years to complete, with Bondgate Tower being finished around 1450.[4][5][6][7]

Bondgate Tower
Coordinates55°24′45″N 01°42′13″W / 55.41250°N 1.70361°W / 55.41250; -1.70361
Built1450
ArchitectHenry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameThe Hotspur Gateway or Bondgate Tower
Designated20 February 1952[1]
Reference no.1041513
Official nameBondgate Tower[2]
Reference no.1006597
Statue of Sir Henry Percy, commonly known as Harry Hotspur, next to the junction of Pottergate and Narrowgate (B6341). Bondgate Tower is commonly called other names after him such as Hotspur Tower or Hotspur Gateway
King Henry V granted a licence to Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland to build Bondgate Tower
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References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "The Hotspur Gateway or Bondgate Tower (1041513)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Bondgate Tower (1006597)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1957). Northumberland (1st ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 73.
  4. ^ "Bondgate Tower, Alnwick, Northumberland | Educational Images | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Bondgate Tower, Bondgate Within, Alnwick - Northumberland (UA) | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Bondgate Tower The Hotspur Gate Alnwick Northumberland England English". www.castleuk.net. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  7. ^ Bondgate Tower (no date) Display board at Baliffgate Museum, Bondgate, Alnwick, Northumberland, 16 October 2020.