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CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE
The first, lasting invasion of Britain by the Romans started in 43AD.
Over the next few decades the Roman conquest moved northwards throughout
Britain. In 79AD, the Roman governor of Britain, Agricola, fortified the
area now known as Warwick. The next invaders were Vikings but King
Alfred the Great successfully negotiated peace with them. His daughter,
Ethelfleda then fortified the Warwick area with a burh (earthen rampart)
to protect against further attacks. |
A motte and bailey castle |
THE FIRST CASTLE
In 1066 William the Conqueror invaded England and is king of all he
surveys. In 1068 William is busy subjugating the Midlands and northern
parts of England and as part of this he orders the building of a fort on
the site of Warwick Castle.
The fort built was of the motte and bailey type. The "motte" was a
wooden watchtower built on an earth mound giving good views over the
surrounding area. The bailey was constructed beneath the motte and was
enclosed by a wooden fence. This was manned by soldiers and contained
their living quarters with a good supply of water. |
THE EARLS OF WARWICK
William the Conqueror appointed Henry de Beaumont (1088 to 1119)
as Constable of the castle in 1068. Henry was then appointed
Earl of Warwick. For some reason unknown he changed his name to
de Newburgh and the earldom remained in the de Newburgh family
for five more generations.
After several changes of ownership the earldom fell to a certain
William Mauduit in 1263. In the previous few years work had
begun on converting the castle from wood to stone, a task
which Mauduit stopped even though the Baron's War had commenced.
William Mauduit was a royalist, supporting the king of the time
Henry III. His "next door neighbour", Simon de Montfort of
Kenilworth Castle, supported the Barons. |
EARL OF WARWICK |
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In 1264 Simon de Montfort parked 15 trebuchets, giant castle
wall-breaking catapults, at the gates of Warwick Castle and laid
siege. The trebuchets did their job and broke down the castle
walls allowing Mauduit to be captured and held to ransom. In the
process, the castle was severely damaged. The repairs were made
in stone rather than the previous wood. Mauduit died in 1268
and the earldom passed to his nephew William de Beauchamp. The
earldom would now remain in the same bloodline 203 years, albeit
via a de Beauchamp daughter in 1446. The most famous of the de
Beauchamp earls was Thomas de Beauchamp, the 11th Earl of
Warwick. |
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Thomas commanded large parts of the British army at the decisive
battles of Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356) during the Hundred
Years War against the French. He was a favourite Edward III who
appointed him a Knight of the Garter. Later on, Thomas's
grandson, Richard de Beauchamp, became famous for his trial and
execution of Joan of Arc at Rouen in France. |
PIC OF TOMB OF T de B at ST MARYS CHURCH |
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THE KINGMAKER
Henry de Beauchamp died in 1446 leaving only Ann de Beauchamp to
inherit the earldom. When she married Richard Neville in 1448
the title effectively passed to the Neville family. Richard
Neville became the most powerful earl of Warwick ever. His power
extended to controlling who would become king of England on two
occasions, hence the nickname "Kingmaker". He played a
major part in deposing both Henry VI and Edward IV.Richard (a
Yorkist) was 16th Earl of Warwick during the War of the Roses, a
prolonged struggle which began between the Lancastrian King
Henry VI and the York House. |
In 1455 Richard Neville was Yorkist commander at the Battle of St
Albans where he defeated King Henry VI. A series of battles throughout
the next six years led to Richard Neville making a king of Edward IV in
1461. Over the next few years Richard Neville became more powerful but
by 1469 he had fallen out with Edward IV.
Fortunes twisted and turned over the next couple of years, at one time
Richard Neville captured Edward IV and imprisoned him at Warwick Castle. But
finally at the Battle of Barnet in 1471 Richard was defeated and killed by
Edward.
JOHN DUDLEY AND LADY JANE GRAY
Warwick Castle and the entire estate of Richard Neville now passed to the
crown where it remained until 1547. As a reward for supporting him, Edward VI
gave the title of Earl of Warwick to John Dudley. At the same time John Dudley
is appointed Chancellor of England and Duke of Northumberland. Instantaneously
he becomes the second most powerful man in England after Edward VI.
| As Edward VI's health begins to fail, John Dudley realised that
Edward's sister Mary will soon inherit the crown. John Dudley and Mary
are arch enemies and on Edward's death in 1553 John Dudley acts
decisively to save his own life and those of his family. With the
assistance of the Earl of Suffolk, they proclaim Lady Jane Grey, John
Dudley's daughter-in-law, Queen of England.
The next nine days were one the most turbulent times for the monarchy
and John Dudley. Eventually the supporters of Mary win the day and both
John Dudley, his son and Lady Jane Grey are executed for treason. |
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THE GREVILLE FAMILY
Warwick Castle and the Earldom of Warwick were split in 1604 when James
I gave the castle to Sir Fulke Greville. The Earldom was given to Lord
Rich in 1618.
One of Greville's servants, Ralph Haywood, was to be his undoing.
Believing that his master had not left a large enough amount to him in
his will, he stabbed him and Greville died nine days later. His servant
committed suicide before he could be brought to justice. It is said the
Sir Fulke Greville haunts the castle to this day, particularly the Ghost
Tower where he spent the majority of his time. |
GHOST TOWER |
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In 1759 the last Rich family member died without leaving any children
and the earldom was granted to Francis Greville re-uniting the castle
and earldom again. Over the next 100 years the castle was greatly
improved and renovated.
In 1978 financial considerations led to David, the 8th Greville Earl
of Warwick, to sell Warwick Castle to the Tussauds Group. They have
significantly commercialised the castle over the last 30 years leaving
it in a much more stable position for the future. Finally in 2007 the
Tussauds Group merged with the Merlin Entertainments Group |
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