Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle at Sunset - Nov 2006

Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is notable for its long association with the English and later British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by the reigning monarch and is the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The castle's lavish early 19th-century State Apartments were described by the architect Hugh Roberts as "a superb and unrivalled sequence of rooms widely regarded as the finest and most complete expression of later Georgian taste". Inside the castle walls is the 15th-century St George's Chapel, considered by the historian John Martin Robinson to be "one of the supreme achievements of English Perpendicular Gothic" design.

History

Windsor Castle was originally designed to secure the western approach to London from invasion and to oversee a strategically important part of the River Thames. William the Conqueror chose the site, high above the river and on the edge of a Saxon hunting ground. It was a day's march from the Tower of London and intended to guard the western approaches to the capital. The castle's early architecture was typical of Norman military architecture, with a central mound (motte) and baileys, but it was transformed into a magnificent palace by successive monarchs.

During the reign of Henry II, the castle was substantially rebuilt in stone, beginning the transformation of the castle from a military fortification to a royal residence. Edward III transformed Windsor from a military base into a Gothic palace, spending an enormous sum of money in the process. The castle was the setting for the royal court and a symbol of royal power and grandeur.

In the English Civil War, the castle was besieged and captured by Parliamentary forces. It was used as a military headquarters and prison. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles II undertook an extensive program of renovation, creating luxurious baroque interiors that are still admired today.

The castle suffered significant damage during the World War II, when it was used as a refuge for the royal family during the bombing of London. Post-war restoration work was undertaken to repair the damage.

Architecture

Windsor Castle covers an area of about 13 acres and contains, in addition to its royal residences, a large chapel, numerous residential buildings for courtiers, and extensive service areas. The castle is divided into the Lower, Middle, and Upper Wards. The Round Tower divides the Upper Ward, which contains the main royal apartments, from the Lower Ward, where St George's Chapel is located.

St George's Chapel is a prime example of English Perpendicular Gothic architecture. Its construction began in the late 15th century and it serves as the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest order of chivalry.

Modern Day

Today, Windsor Castle is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and the preferred weekend home of Elizabeth II. The castle is also used for ceremonial and state occasions, including the annual service of the Order of the Garter.

See Also

• British monarchy
• History of England
• Gothic architecture
• Order of the Garter