Warwick Castle, built in AD 1068 by William the Conqueror, served as an important fortification for England for 600 years. It has a motte and bailey design and a long and bloody history, including involvement in the Wars of the Roses and the rivalry between Mary Tudor and Lady Jane Grey. Since 1978, it has been owned by a media group and is considered one of England’s top ten historic monuments.
Warwick Castle is an ancient English fortification in south-central Britain, initially built in AD 1068 by William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England who reigned from AD 1066 to AD 1087. The castle served as an important fortification for England for 600 years. From the 17th to the 20th century, Warwick Castle was intermittently open to tourists and, as of 2011, was rated one of England’s top ten historic monuments by the British Tourist Authority (BTA). The structure officially comprises the boundary walls and outbuildings such as stables and a conservatory, and is one of England’s best-preserved historic sites. When built by William the Conqueror, however, Warwick Castle was a modest wooden structure and was gradually converted to stone in the 13th century.
The original makeup for castle types in England during the 11th century period was based on the motte and bailey design. This meant that Warwick Castle had a motte, or wooden watchtower, built on a raised earthen mound which afforded far reaching views of the surrounding land. The bailey was a fortification behind and below the motte surrounded by a wooden fence, which was permanently manned by soldiers. Soldiers also lived within the confines of the court, where they were supplied with food and water from outside.
Warwick Castle has a long and bloody history. It was first besieged in 1264 by Simon de Montfort of nearby Kenilworth Castle, resulting in the partial destruction of its stone walls and the capture of the current ruler, William Mauduit, the 8th Earl of Warwick. King Edward IV was imprisoned for a time at Warwick Castle in the 15th century and historical events such as the 14th century Hundred Years War and the 15th century Wars of the Roses involved rulers and events connected to Warwick Castle.
Under royal ownership, the castle also figured prominently in the rivalry between Mary Tudor and Lady Jane Gray for the throne, with Gray reigning as Queen of England for just nine days in July 1553. Gray acquired the throne through the machinations of his father. -law John Dudley, who was the Earl of Warwick at the time and the most powerful nobleman in England. Shortly after Lady Jane Gray was removed from the throne, John Dudley was beheaded from the crown for treason.
Since 1978, Warwick Castle has been owned by a media group in England who also own the famous Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in London. It is considered since 2011 one of the most interesting castles to visit due to its rich history and range of attractions. Warwick Castle has also been looked after and improved since the reign of Charles II in the mid-17th century.
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