Kenilworth Castle

Recently B wanted a lift to a pub near Kenilworth to meet ex work colleagues for lunch so rather than return all the way home and go all the way back again D and I paid a visit to Kenilworth Castle. We were really lucky with the weather as there was a good chance of rain but, although it was cloudy, the rain stayed away until we got in the car to leave!

 

• The first castle at Kenilworth was built in the 1120's by Geoffrey de Clinton - the Royal Chamberlain, who built the Great Tower and funded Kenilworth Priory.
• In the early C13th King John added an outer circuit wall and built a dam to retain a large lake. The castle was now strongly defended and withstood a siege in 1266.
• Soon the castle was used as a palace and John of Gaunt, son of Edward III, created the Great Hall and its apartments.
• C15th Lancastrian kings visited to hunt an Henry V had a retreat constructed at the end of the lake called "The Pleasance in the Marsh".
• In 1563 Queen Elizabeth I gave the castle to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and he turned it into a palace fit to entertain her.
• After the Civil War fortifications were removed and in 1650 Leicester's Gatehouse was used as a residence by Colonel Hawkesworth, a Parliamentarian Officer.
• In 1958 Lord Kenilworth gave the castle to the town and it has been managed by English Heritage since 1984.

Mortimer's Tower built by King John c1210 may have acquired its name from Roger Mortimer, one of the Marcher Lords, who held a Tournament at the castle in 1282.

The area surrounding the castle would once have contained the lake. I think English Heritage has plans to create wildflower meadows in some areas.

The Great Tower

Leicester's Building built to house apartments for Queen Elizabeth I when she visited.

The Stables built in Tudor Times now houses a cafe and an excellent exhibition which we've visited in the past.  I must say that English Heritage has done a super job in looking after Kenilworth Castle.  So different to what, in my view!, is the dreadful over commercialisation of Warwick Castle!

Leicester's Gatehouse built in 1571/2 by Robert Dudley

There is a lovely parterre by the Gatehouse which, whatever the season, is always full of colour.

The Queen's Privy Garden was a private garden created for Queen Elizabeth I by Robert Dudley in 1575.  The garden was recreated by English Heritage in 2009. The design of the garden was based on a description by Robert Langham in the C16 who had somehow managed to  sneak into the garden and also on archaeological surveys and historical research.  

The fountain is the centre piece of the garden. The new fountain, like the original, is made of white Carrera marble from Tuscany, Italy.  The central column has two Athlantes (Atlas figures holding up the sky).  The octagonal base has panels carved with scenes from the "Metamorphoses" (Ovid's narrative poem) which reveals the lives and loves of gods and humans and describes their transformation into animals or plants.

The aviary with its top painted to make it look as though it is encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires.

The buildings in this area are, according to the Antiquarian William Dugdale in 1656, are known as "The Pleasance" suggesting it was constructed of materials taken from the "Pleasance in the Marsh" retreat.

You can climb to the top of Leicester's Building! You wouldn't get me up there but D went up there once to get photos.

The Great Tower

The Great Hall - the windows have Perpendicular Tracery.  The Hall itself was on the first floor and the ground floor was a vaulted cellar or storeroom.

The kitchen area was built in the time of John of Gaunt and you can still see hearths, fireplaces, bread ovens and herringbone masonry.

The Bear and Ragged Staff was the badge of Robert Dudley - you see it everywhere in Warwickshire.

Lunn's Tower

We sat outside for lunch - egg and cress sandwich for me and we shared two slices of cake - a flapjack and a white chocolate and cherry cake.

We had a very brief look around the interior of the gatehouse.

We had a quick look round the shop and I bought some Christmas Cards and a couple of bottles of English Heritage wine - one ginger and one cherry. Its expensive but good and I'll keep it for Christmas - hopefully!

It was our first visit this year. Usually we go a couple of times a year as being EH members it doesn't cost anything and we are lucky to have such a super castle on the "doorstep". It also comes in handy when B wants chauffeuring!!! :)

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Reference: EH Guide to Kenilworth Castle and Information Boards around the site.