Note 20 — ALNWICK CASTLE.[18]

The name of Alnwick has been variously spelt at different periods. Thus, among other ways, it has been spelt Alnawic, Alnewyke, Alnewyc, Alnewick, Annwik, Annewic, Annewyke, Anwik, Anwick, &c. Formerly it appears to have been pronounced with the Scotch twang, An-ne-wick, as though spelt in three syllables. It is now by all natives of the place called Annick. Aln (the name of the river), like the names of our rivers, hills, and mountains, is Celtic, or ancient British, and was given by one of the earliest tribes settling in Britain; for in Hiberno-Celtic we have Alain, signifying white, bright, or clear. Alnwick (wick being a street, village, or dwelling-place), therefore, is the town on the bright clear river.