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Archive for the ‘Warwickshire’ Category

Old Wardour Castle

04 May

Situated near Tisbury in Wiltshire, the ruins of Old Wardour Castle are definately worth a visit!

You begin your tour by entering the front of the castle by walking over what would have once been a wide ditch only passable by a drawbridge.  Sadly no remains of the ditch or drawbridge remain.

Above the main doorway you will see a bust of Christ, the Arundall coat of arms and a latin inscription…

You can then wander around the Great Hall stairway which will eventually lead you up to what remains of the castle so you can enjoy the fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

After you have enjoyed exploring the castle you should then exit the same way you came in and by doing so you will see what remains of the Grotto and Stone Circle.

If you look hard enough, before you leave the site you should find a couple of rustic looking arcoves which are made from pieces of the castle.

All-in-all Old Wardour Castle is a great place to visit.  If your in the area for the day then why not go up the road and take a look at Stonehenge?

 
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Posted in Days Out, Warwickshire

 

Kenilworth Castle

29 Jun

For much of its history Kenilworth Castle was a royal castle.  It began its life in the 1120′s and later became more of a palace rather than a castle when John of Gaunt (King Edward III’s son) had the great hall constructed.  With excellent hunting grounds it soon attracted the likes of King Henry V.

During 1563 the Earl of Leicester (Robert Dudley) became the owner as it was gifted to him by the then monarch, Queen Elizabeth I.  Kenilworth then became a place for entertainment and merryment (if you know what I mean ;) ).

After the Cival War in 1650, Kenilworth Castle’s fortifications were removed.

Lord Kenilworth was the last owner of the castle who gifted the castle to the town of Kenilworth in 1958.  Then in 1984 English Heritage began to manage the site on the towns behalf.

In the Medieval Times Mortimers Tower was the main entrance to the castle and along with many other things, Mortimers Tower was dismantled around 1650 after the Cival War had ended.

As you wander around the site and look at the ruin you can see evidence of how it once used to look as you will see the various different fire palces and windows high up in the walls.

If you take a look at where the kitchens used to be you can see three fireplaces that would have been used to cook on.  There is also the remains of a bread oven and an oval site where the copper (or couldron) would have once been.

Not all of the castle is in a state of ruin, the Great Hall still has its roof and Leicesters’ Gatehouse is still in tack so you can see the rooms in all their splender!

A visit to the stable is well worth a look as this is where you can enjoy a drink and a snack from the cafe that is now in there!  Believe it or not, the stables once housed up to 50 horses!

All in all, a great castle with plenty of things to look at and explore!

 
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Posted in Days Out, Warwickshire