Here are some facts about Warwick Castle, located near the River Avon, in the county of Warwickshire.
- A motte-and-bailey castle was built on the site of Warwick Castle. This early castle was built in 1068 by the Normans following William the Conqueror’s victory in the Battle of Hastings.
- The motte-and-bailey castle was upgraded to stone during the reign of Henry II. A curtain wall was built with buildings up against it.
- In the 14th century, a gatehouse was added and several towers were constructed.
- In 1469, during the time of the Wars of the Roses, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, imprisoned King Edward IV in Warwick Castle.
- Richard III ordered for two gun towers to be added to Warwick Castle in the 1480s. These were called Bear Tower and Clarence Tower.
- During the 16th century, Warwick Castle started to fall into disrepair. In fact, when Queen Elizabeth I visited, a separate building had to built for her to stay in.
- In 1604, Warwick Castle was given to Sir Fulke Greville in 1604 by James I. The Greville family, who owned the property until 1978, set about converting it to magnificent country house.
- In 1642, during the First English Civil War, Royalist forces laid siege to Warwick Castle. The siege didn’t amount to much as the attackers didn’t have large enough guns to damage the castle walls.
- In 1978, the Greville family sold Warwick Castle and it was opened as a tourist attraction.
- One of the world’s largest working trebuchets (massive siege catapults) has been built in the grounds of Warwick Castle. This wooden machine can hurl a 150kg boulder over 300 metres. The rock can travel at speeds of more than 250 km per hour.
- Warwick Castle has had more than 35 different owners since it was built by Henry II.
Find out more about castles by visiting our Castles Resources Page.
