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Warwick Castle, Warwickshire

Although there are tales of Warwick Castle dating back to the days of Alfred the Great, it was William the Conqueror who built the first recorded castle at Warwick. This was a wooden fortification on top of a mound, one of many he built around the country. Later it was rebuilt in stone. The castle first saw fighting in 1264 when Simon de Montfort seized the castle during his rebellion against Henry the Third. William Mauduit, the Earl of Warwick was loyal to Henry, and was imprisoned in nearby Kenilworth Castle.

When Mauduit died, the castle passed to the Beauchamp family, where it remained for almost two centuries. Then when the powerful noble Richard Neville married the sister of the last Beauchamp earl, the castle passed to the Nevilles. Once again the castle and its earl were to play a role at the centre of English history. Richard Neville used his influence to help depose the incompetent king Henry the Sixth in 1461, and replace him with Edward the Fourth. Then in 1470, after a falling out with Edward, Richard Neville switched his allegiance and brought Henry the Sixth back to the throne. This turned out to be a disastrous misjudgement. By the following year Henry had been deposed again, and Edward was back in control. Richard Neville was now the enemy, and he was hunted down by Edward's brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester. The castle now became the property of Edward and Richard's younger brother, George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, who was married to the earl of Warwick's eldest daughter. The Duke of Clarence was himself executed for plotting against king Edward in 1478, and the castle became part of Richard of Gloucester's expanding empire. From Richard the castle passed on down through twenty further earls, before becoming a member of a heritage group called the Treasure Houses of England in the 1970s. The castle is now run as a visitor attraction.

There is a full calander of events, and an active school's programme covering all ages.

Opening Times: The castle is open every day except 25th December. Opening hours are : January 1st to March 20th 10am - 5pm, March 21st to September 30th 10am - 6pm and October 1st to December 31st 10am - 5pm. Last admission is thirty minutes prior to closing.

Directions: Warwick Castle is in Warwick , two miles from junction 15 off the M40. It is signposted from this junction. Warwick train station is about a mile from the castle. Click here for an interactive map centred on Warwick Castle.

Access: most of the interior of the castle is not accessible to wheelchair users. Access in the grounds and gardens, the gift shop and restaurant is good. Adapted toilet facilities are available.

Contact:

telephone: 0870 442 2000

web site: http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/warwick2004/index.asp

e-mail: customer.information@warwick-castle.com