Mediaevel England is bought back to
life at Warwick Castle but the history of the castle dates back to the 11th
century when it was built by William the Conquerer. Warwick Castle offers
something for everyone, young or old. This is a typical castle with a Great
Hall, State rooms, Chapel, Ghost Tower and dungeons.
Outside there is a Victorian rose garden, conservatory and peacock garden
and in the summer there is a full programme of activities. There are live
shows demonstrating jousting, archery, falconry and combat as well as a huge
reconstructed trebuchet (the largest catapult in the world) that is fired
twice daily.
Visitors can watch a film called Dream of Battle that tells the story of one
of the Castle's greatest conflicts through the eyes of a 12 year old
preparing for battle. The Ghost tower hosts a chilling live-action
experience with actors and effects to recreate the murder of Sir Fulke
Greville.
With so much to see and do the Castle also offers plenty of places to eat
and a gift shop.
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is one of the most
famous and daunting castles in the World. Warwick Castle has a chequered
history which moves from its construction as a Wooden Motte and Bailey
castle by William the Conqueror to a massive stone fortress. Surviving siege
warfare to the Age of Medieval Knights and Chivalry and the English Civil
War. The name Warwick means 'dwellings by the weir' - a weir was a fence or
wattle built across a stream to catch or retain fish. The Warwick wooden
Motte and Bailey Castle was defended by the River Avon on the South side and
by wide and deep ditches on all other sides. An important feature of Warwick
Castle is its access to the River Avon. During the construction of Warwick
Castle men, equipment and building materials were easily transported by
boats to the site of the castle. Once Warwick Castle had been built built
fresh supplies, provisions and reinforcements prevented the castle occupants
from being starved into submission during siege warfare. William the
Conqueror used enforced Anglo-Saxon labour for work on the construction of
Warwick Castle. The wooden castle was replaced by a fortified stone castle
in 1260. The two main round towers were built at the front of the castle and
the Chapel and large hall were built against the south wall. Various
additions were made to Warwick Castle as time passed - Guys Tower and
Caesar's Tower were added at the end of the fourteenth Century.
Interesting facts and Information
about Warwick Castle
The location of Warwick Castle
- Warwick town centre
The building of the wooden Warwick Castle started in 1068
The first Warwick Castle was a wooden Motte and Bailey design
The Architecture / Style - Norman Romanesque and later Medieval
The Castle is built next to the South side of the River Avon
Warwick Castle has over 60 acres of ground
A English Fortified town, called a Burh was built in Warwick
The dungeon at Warwick Castle measures 19ft by 13ft
Warwick Castle also has oubliette, a pit prison
The Earls and owners of Warwick
Castle passed through several great dynasties. The medieval earldom was
inheritable through both the male and the female line of descent, and thus
was held by members of several families - the Beaumonts and Beauchamps, the
Nevilles, the Dudleys, the Richs and the Grevilles.
The Construction of Warwick Castle
The history of the construction of
Warwick Castle is fascinating. The construction of the castle was ordered by
William the Conqueror and quickly constructed as a wooden Motte and Bailey
structure. The wooden castle was replaced by a fortified stone castle in
1260. The two main round towers were built at the front of the castle and
the Chapel and large hall were built against the south wall. Various
additions were made to Warwick Castle as time passed - Guys Tower and
Caesar's Tower were added at the end of the fourteenth Century - these were
built on the style of the French Donjon or Great Tower affording more
security and luxury to Warwick Castle. Both Guys Tower and Caesar's Tower
were constructed to contain several storeys of bright rooms with fireplaces,
garderobes and bedrooms. They were both constructed as part of the curtain
wall defences, although they are self contained.
Caesar's Tower
Interesting information and facts
about Caesar's Tower:
The tower shape is described as
trilobed - having three lobes
Caesar's Tower has six storeys
It is 44 meters (133 feet) high
The lowest storey is a dungeon
The second, third and forth storeys were constructed as family quarters
The fifth storey was an ammunition store
The sixth storey was designed as a guardroom with easy access to two
tiers of battlements
Guys Tower
Interesting information and facts
about Guys Tower:
Guys Tower was constructed on
the same lines as Caesars Tower
It is 39 meters high
Family quarters
Ammunition store with a guardroom with easy access to the battlements
The Purpose of the Warwick Castle
The purpose of the Warwick Castle
were as follows:
To act as a fortified post
To provide a base where men, provisions and horses could be housed
To overawe and frighten the indigenous population
To provide a site from which the Normans could govern the surrounding
district
To act as a royal power base
A prison
Warwick Castle was first built as a
fortress with a central Keep, successive lines of fortification and towers
were added over hundreds of years and several different reigns. The castle
complex which covers
The Main Events in the History of
Warwick Castle
The History of the site of Warwick
Castle dates back to antiquity and the main events and stories of the Roman,
Celts, Saxons, Vikings provide a fascinating insight into its location. The
bloody history of Warwick Castle is steeped in treachery, murder, mystery
and intrigue. Famous historical figures and events feature in the history of
Warwick Castle including William the Conqueror, the Wars of the Roses, John
Dudley, Lady Jane Grey, the Civil War and the Age of Chivalry with Knights
and tournaments. The History of Warwick Castle events also features a number
of sieges when the castle was bombarded with missiles from massive siege
engines such as the Mangonel and the mighty Trebuchet. The History and
Facts, Events and Timeline of Warwick castle are really comprehensive and
cover the history of Warwick castle in detail - follow the links at the top
of the page and live the history of Warwick Castle.
Early site, probably dating from
pre-Norman times. Much mediaeval work remains. Good C18 and later additions.
In 1871 a fire gutted the Great Hall and East Wing, these being restored by
Anthony Salvin. This castle, (containing a fine collection of antiques and
works of art) is considered of very great national interest. Main block with
C14 walls and vaulted undercroft. Caesan's tower and Guy's tower, the
Gatehouse and its Barbican also C14. The curtain walls may date from this
period. Bear and Clarence towers C15, left incomplete 1485 and later given
battlements; probably intended as a stronghold within the castle similar to
that at Raglan. Late C17 internal features include exceptional plasterwork
and wood carvings to the Cedar Room by Roger and William Hurlbut, completed
1678. Altered 1753-5 by Lancelot Brown, who rebuilt the porch and stairway
to the Great Hall. Porch extended forward and additional rooms built beside
it, 1763-9, by Timothy Lightoler. Watergate tower restored by A Salvin
1861-3.