Look at Windsor [antikvár]

Introduction - GylesAdams It was Sámuel Pepys who acclaimed Windsor's castle 'the most romantic in the world' and tew would quarrel with this description. Pepys paid a one day visit during which 'he saw everything that was to be seen, and all with characteristic enjoyment', but it must be remembered that this was during the reign of Charles II, a monarch who alsó loved Windsor. Not all sovereigns have appreciated 'the most romantic castle' and it is interesting to note that it has been favoured by somé, and almost completely neglected by others. To start at the beginning, we find a little difficulty in establishing an exact date on which the building of the castle commenced. It is known that the Saxons had a palace at Windsor, but it was two miles lower down the river. It was William the Conqueror who selected the hill above as a suitable site for a stronghold that would guard the approaches to London from the west, but the form of the originál fortress is equally unknown. We may be certain of two things: it was established upon the artificial chalk mound which now supports the Round Tower, and built of timber from the forest. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1084. The building remained a purely military establishment until 1110, when Henry I moved there from the Palace in Old Windsor. Of the buildings he raised, no identifiable remains exist, but Henry II replaced the wooden palisade with stone walls and square turrets which are still to be seen. In 1189, shortly after Henry II's death, the Castle suffered its first siege when the English barons attacked Prince John's army of Welshmen, who had taken refuge within. The Welsh took fright and fled, and John escaped to Francé. Later, as King, he returned to Windsor to suffer the humiliation of signing Magna Carta in nearby Runnymede (June 1215). The next royal builder of note was Edward III, born in the castle on 28 November 1312, and founder of the Order of the Garter. Since this noble order of Chivalry is so much part of both the Castle and St George's Chapel, it might be as well to digress, and consider the romantic story to which it is attributed. In 1346 Edward III celebrated his victory in the Battle of Crécy with festivities at Windsor. While dancing with Joan, the lovely young Countess of Salisbury, one of her garters slipped down and feli upon the ballroom floor. This misfortune caused somé amusement among those present, and the lady was embarrassed. The King picked up the garter, rebuked the unruly guests, and assured them that he would make that garter famous throughout history. When he later announced that his fraternity of Knights was to be called 'The Order of the Garter', part of its regalia was the turquoise-blue garter embellished with the words: Honi sóit qui mai y pense ('Shamed be he who thinks evil of it'). In 1472 Edward IV set about building a larger, grander Chapel for the Knights, and this was to be the present St George's Chapel, very much as it stands today. (The originál, adjoining it to the East, was allowed to fali into ruin, but was later restored by Queen Victoria as 'The Albert Memóriái Chapel'.) Richárd III and Henry VII do not appear to have made much impression on Windsor Castle, but Henry VIII inaugurated new splendours. The main entrance to the Castle is through the commanding gateway which he built, and this bears his coat of arms. In St George's Chapel are two mementoes of his first and third wives; an oriel window overlooking the High Altar (built by Henry for Catherine of Aragon) and the tomb of Jane Seymour, his third and favourite Queen. Elizabeth I loved Windsor, and her main contribution was the North Terrace, a favourite place with all visitors, commanding beautiful views of Home Park, river, and