AllWays Traveller Features
History comes to life within Warwick's castle walls
Warwick, the historic county town of Warwickshire, sits on the River Avon, just west of Royal Leamington Spa and a short drive to Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry.
The area has been settled since the 6th Century and a thriving Saxon community existed at Warwick during the 9th Century.
It is the Castle, however, which was first built in 1068 as part of the Norman fortification of the country, that provides the town with its major visitor attraction.
Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Shakespeare 'experience', is nine miles away and the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty are within an easy day trip.
While in the Warwick area, trips to the National Trust's Upton House and Gardens is also to be recommended.
Keeping people out is the last thing on anyone's mind
Warwick Castle has dominated the town of Warwick for centuries.
In days gone by it was a fortification that bestowed power upon those who commanded and protection from those marauding hoards looking to force a way inside.
Today, keeping people out - all be it the pleasure seeking, peaceful kind. - is the last thing on anyone's mind.
Warwick Castle, now run by Merlin Entertainment, is unashamedly geared to meeting the demand from those who want their history themed and as much fun as possible.
Images : www.warwick-castle.com
The balance is right
When first walking into Warwick Castle one has to be to be impressed by the overall scale of the castle complete with its towers, turrets and ramparts.
It is how I believed a castle to be when, as a young child, I was Sir somebody or other, bravest knight in the realm and slayer of any number of dragons and black knights.
But making a visit to Warwick Castle worth a day out not to mention the price of admission, there does need to be more.
Merlin Entertainment, know a thing or two about visitor attractions and how to keep families happy.
And so there are archers demonstrating bow skills and giving a history lessons to boot; Knights fighting in the courtyard arena with swords, pole arms and axe and a daily 'medieval' birds of prey show.
The Warwick trebuchet
The trebuchet at Warwick Castle is the world's largest catapult.
It takes a team of eight a half an hour to load and 'shoot' stones or fireballs up to 240 metres at a speed of 160 miles per hour.
Throughout the year there is a programme of special events including jousting tournaments, open air cinema, country, medieval and Christmas fairs and a season of live classical and pop concerts.
The castle dungeon
When touring the castle itself. a first trip should be the dungeon, which dates back to 1345.
Passing through its 10 underground rooms one comes across poor (waxwork) souls braving the torturer, or hearing a judge sentencing those accused of all manner of crimes to a lifetime in this dark and dank surroundings.
Into the house
Above ground and going into the house at Warwick Castle, one can see a collection of armoury that is second only to that on display in the Tower of London.
And, again, stunningly lifelike wax models are used to create a lavish, turn of the century, weekend party hosted by Daisy, Countess of Warwick.
Frances Evelyn 'Daisy' Greville, Countess of Warwick, was a British socialite and long-time mistress to Albert, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.
She was also the inspiration for the popular music hall song Daisy, Daisy.
This mix of history and theme park entertainment makes a day out at Warwick Castle a really enjoyable experience and provides the flow of income needed to ensure it will welcome visitors for many years to come.
A brief history of Warwick Castle
A wooden motte-and-bailey fortification, which was first built on the site in 1068, on the orders of William the Conqueror, remained in place until it was replaced by a stone castle in the 12th century.
There was ongoing refortification during the 13th and 14th Centuries.
In 1604, King James I granted the castle to Sir Fulke Greville who, with times being less violent, converted it into a country house.
The Castle remained in the Greville family - who became Earls of Warwick - until 1978 when it was bought by the Tussauds Group, who opened the Castle to the public.
Beyond the castle
The Lord Leycester Hospital
The Lord Leycester Hospital is an historic group of timber-framed buildings dating mainly from the late 14th Century clustered round the Norman gateway into Warwick.
Despite its name the hospital was never a medical establishment. It was, and still is, a charitable institution for the 'needy, infirm and aged' ex-servicemen and their wives.
Open to the public, the Hospital provides for a fascinating 45 minute visit.
Upton House and Gardens
Upton House, a National Trust property, is a late 17th century house which was completely remodelled between 1927and 1929 for the 2nd Viscount Bearsted.
This well respected and much loved oil millionaire, whose father founded Shell Oil, used Upton as his family's country residence and as a walk through art gallery for his astounding art collection.
With admiral foresight, the then Lord Bearsted bequeathed the house, gardens and art collection to the National Trust in 1948.
But the understanding that his collection of paintings remained completely intact and on display as he had done.
As a result, visitors today can enjoy Bearsted's outstanding collection of Old Masters, including include works by Stubbs, Hogarth, Canaletto, Bosch and Bruegel.
The gardens
If that were not enough, the stunning gardens at Upton contain wide lawns and terraced herbaceous borders leading down to ornamental pools.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/upton-house
Charlecote
Charlecote, now a National Trust property,has been home to the Lucy family since the 12th century.
The house itself, which is furnished as it would have been in Victorian times, contains family portraits, and artefacts collected from around the world.
The gardens include a formal parterre, colourful herbaceous planting and a woodland walk.
The wider parkland (inspired by 'Capability' Brown), which offers miles of walks and views across the River Avon. A herd of fallow deer has been in the park since Tudor times.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/charlecote-park
Compton Verney, Warwickshire
Compton Verney House is a Grade 1 listed country mansion, which was built by the 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke in the early 18th-Century.
The gardens were laid out by Capability Brown for the 14th Baron.
The house and gardens now belong to the Compton Verney House Trust who run it as an art gallery.
Royal Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa is an elegant town known for its fine Georgian and Victorian architecture, tree-lined avenues and public squares and gardens.
The Royal Pump Rooms have been developed as a cultural and tourism hub with museum, art gallery, library, tourist information centre and the Regency-style Assembly Rooms.
www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon, which is known the world over as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, is nine miles from Warwick.
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