Duke of Northumberland - Ducal Pipers

Ducal Pipers

Since at least the mid 18th century, the family has maintained a Northumbrian piper; the earliest known of these was Joseph Turnbull, who was painted in 1756 playing his pipes; the portrait, entitled Joseph Turnbull, Piper to the Duchess of Northumberland is at Alnwick Castle. At this time, before the Third Creation of the Dukedom, he would actually have been piper to the Countess. A later piper, William Green stated that Joe Turnbull was the first Piper at Alnwick Castle - that was ever!. A list of the Ducal Pipers is at. The present Ducal Piper is Richard Butler. The piper's main duty is to play at the Shrove Tuesday football match in Alnwick.

Other pipers have been associated less formally with the family - the notorious piper James Allan (1729–1810) was a favourite of the Countess; in the last century Tom Clough is known to have played for the Duke and his guests at Alnwick; one such guest was Edward VII, in 1905.