Warwick Castle is a medieval castle
developed from an original built by Conqueror in 1068. Warwick is the county
town of Warwickshire in England, situated on a bend of the Avon River. The
original wooden castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century.
During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified,
resulting in one of the most recognized examples of 14th century military
architecture. It was used as a strong hold until the early 17th century, when
it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I in 1604. Greville converted it to a country
house and it was owned by the Graville Family, who became earls of Warwick in
1759, until 1978 when was bought
by the Tussauds Group.
Warwick Castle is situated in the town of Warwick on a sand
stone bluff at a bend of the Avon River. The river, which runs below the castle on the east side,has
eroded the rock . The castle stands on it, forming a cliff. When construction
began in 1068, four houses belonging to the Abbot of Coventry were demolished
to provide room. The castle's position made it important in safe guarding the
Midlands against rebellion. During the 12th century, King Henry was suspicious of Roger de Beaumount,
2nd Earl of Warwick. To counter the earl's influence, Henry bestowed Geoffrey de Clinton with a position of power
rivaling that of the earl. The lands he was given
After the Norman conquest of England, Conqueror William
established a castle at Warwick in
1068 to maintain control of the Midlands as he advanced northwards. Building a castle in pre - existing settlement
could require demolishing properties on the intended site. in the case of
Warwick, the least recorded of the 11 urban castles in the 1086 survey, four
houses were torn down to make way for the castle.
William appointed Henry de Beaumont, the son of a powerful Norman
family, as constable of the castle. In 1088, Henry de
Beaumont was made the first Earl of Warwick. He founded the Church of All Saints within the
castle walls by 1119.
In 1153, the wife of Roger de Beaumont 2nd earl of
Warwick, was tricked into believing that her husband was dead, and surrendered
control of the castle to invading army of Henry of Anjou, later King Henry I.
According to the
Gesta Regis Stephani, a 12th century
historical text. Roger de Beaumont died on hearing the
news that his wife had handed over the castle. Henry later returned the castle
to the Earls of Warwick, as they had been supporters of his mother, Empress
Matilda, in the Anarchy of 1135 - 1154.
From 1088, the castle had traditionally belonged to the Earl of
Warwick, and it served as a symbol of his power. The castle was taken in 1153
by Henry of Anjou, later Henry II. It has been used to hold prisoners,
including some from the Battle of Poitiers in the 14th century. Under the
ownership of Richard
Neville
also known as Warwick the King maker.
Warwick Castle was used in the 15th
century to imprison the English King Edward IV.
During the reign of King Henry ( II 1154 - 1189), the motte and bailey was
replaced with a stone castle. This new phase took the form of a shell
keep with all the buildings constructed against the curtain wall. During the
baron's rebellion of 1173 - 1174, the Earl of Warwick remained loyal to King
Henry II, and the castle was used to store provisions. The castle and the lands
associated with the earldom passed down in the Beaumont family until 1242. When
Thomas de Beaumont 6th Earl of Warwick, died the castle and lands
passed to his sister, Lady Margery, countess of Warwick in her own right. Her
husband died soon after, and while she looked for a suitable husband, the
castle was in the ownership of King Henry III. When
she married John du Plessis in December 1242, the castle was returned to her.
During the Second Baron's War of 1264 - 1267, William Maudit 8th Earl of
Warwick, was a supporter of King Henry III. The castle was taken in a
surprise attack by the forces of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, from
Kenilworth Castle in 1264. The walls along the northeastern side of the castle
were slighted so that it would be useless to the king. Maudit and his countess
were taken to Kenilworth castle and held until a ransom was paid.
After the death of Mauduit in 1267, the title and castle passed to
his nephew William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick. Following William's
death, Warwick Castle passed through seven generations of the Beaushamp family,
who over the next 180 years were responsible for most of the additions made to
the castle. In 1312 Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was captured by Guy de
Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwickand imprisoned in Warwick castle until his
execution on 9 June 1312. A group
of magnates led by the Earl of Warwick and Thomas 2nd Earl of Lancaster accused Gaveston of stealing
the royal treasure.
Under Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl, the castle
defenses were significant enchased in 1330 - 1360 on the north eastern side by
the addition of gatehouse and a tower on either side of the reconstructed wall,
named Caesar's and Guy's Tower. The Watergate Tower also dates from this
period.
Caezar's and Guy's Tower are residential and may have been
inspired by French models. The two towers are also vulted in stone on every story. Caezar's Tower
contained a grim basement dungeon according to local legend dating back to a
least 1644 it is also known as Poitiers Tower either because prisoners from the
battle of Poitires in 1336 may have been imprisoned there or because the
ransoms raised from the battle helped to pay for its construction
During the summer of 1469, Neville rebelled against King Edward
IV and imprisoned him in Warwick Castle. Neville attempted to rule in the king's name, however constant protests by the king's supporters
forced the Earl to release the king. Neville was subsequently killed in
the battle of Barnet, fighting against King Edward IV in 1471 during the War of
Roses. In 1478 the castle passed from Neville to his son-in-law George
Plantagenet, who executed in 1478 and his lands passed onto Edward Plantagenet,
17th Earl of Warwick, however Edward Plantagenet was only two when his father
died so his lands were taken in the custody of the Crown.
In the early 1480s King Richard III instigated the construction
of two gun towers, Bear and Clarence towers, which left unfinished on his death
in 1485 with their own well and ovens, the towers were an independent
stronghold from the rest of the castle, possibly in case of mutiny by the
garrison. With the advent of gunpowder the position of Keeper of the Artillery
was created in 1486.
Warwick Castle had fallen into decay due to its age neglect and
despite his remarks Dudley did not initiate any repairs to the castle. Queen
Elisabeth I visited the castle in 1566 during a tour of the country and again
in 1572.
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