Having climbed halfway up an adjacent Tower, suddenly the top half of John of Gaunt's Great Hall came into view.
Although pillaged and ransacked many times during its 654 year existence, the hall still exudes a sense of power and wealth.
The opposite exit leads out into what was once the Castle's vast hunting grounds.
The Great Hall undertaken from 1370 by John of Gaunt, Edward lll's fourth son, counts as one of the most significant and ambitious building campaigns of the 14th century. He created the hall and a suite of apartments conceived according to a coherent architectural programme. His father first achieved such unified treatment at Windsor Castle in the 1350s, and Gaunt's work here represented the start of its transmission elsewhere.
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The vertical lines are characteristic of the perpendicular style.
Leaving behind the Great Hall and the mighty 900 year old Norman Keep, we cross over the castles inner court to the building that Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, built for his queen - now known as Leicester's building.
Leicester's building
Although the building is virtually a shell it is possible to climb the remains courtesy a stairway built by English Heritage. The accommodation housed large kitchens and scullery in the basement area, and enough accommodation for all of the queen's staff. One of the upper floors provided a luxurious suite of rooms for the queen including her private bedchamber.
The queen arrived at Kenilworth Castle with an entourage of 31 barons together with a large number of staff for her royal visit in 1557, a visit that lasted, exceptionally, for 19 days; Twenty horsemen journeyed every day to Kenilworth from London in order to bring royal messages to the queen.
The Great Hall seen via the queen's building.
A view from one of the queen's suite of rooms
Kenilworth town would not have been visible in 1557. The houses seen today were probably built during the late Georgian/early Victorian era. However, the Gatehouse had been newly built, being part of Dudley's grand plan to woo the queen.
The attractive Tudor stable block was built for Robert Dudley's father, the Duke of Northumberland, in 1553.
It still retains its magnificent timber-framed structure supporting its tiled roof.
It’s magnificent even in its present state. It is hard to conceive that such wealth was available to build these structures, at a time when most people were doubtless serfs - effectively legal slaves. Some practices are better consigned to history.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish that slavery was consigned to history, but sadly, even today, it continues to exist.
DeleteRobert Dudley certainly had an interesting life, although I think Elizabeth led him a merry dance. The roof beams are truly magnificent, reflecting skill and precision.
ReplyDeleteThey were emotionally dependent on each other throughout their lives, but were they ever really lovers? Over the centuries, layer upon layer of myth and fiction have obscured their true story.
DeleteAlthough a fantasy series Game of Thrones borrowed heavily from UK history including a royal procession and straggling mobile court of followers visiting an outlying Lord's castle in the first series which may well have been inspired by the Queen's visit you describe so it keeps getting re imaged for each new generation in one form or another.
ReplyDeleteI never saw Game of Thrones myself, but these are interesting thoughts Bob.
DeleteYour photos show well the heavy solidity of the building as well as its rugged beauty. I wonder if that magnificent roof in the last photo was once thatched, it looks steeper than a tiled roof needs to be.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of buildings in Warwickshire that do have thatched roofs so it's possible that you could be correct. However, looking at my photo of the outside of the stables, the roof is not as steep as the interior shot appears to show.
DeleteAn amazing structure and so well preserved, its a tribute to the people who look after the place. The roof structure in the last photo is a stile ecoed in may of the chrches I have visited
ReplyDeleteIt is well worth a visit if ever you happen to be in that area. It is cared for by English Heritage.
DeleteEn fantastisk historia, ett fantastisk ställe och magiska bilder igen Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteHa en härlig vecka nu...
Kram från Titti
Tack Titti - kul att du trivs💚
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThank you👍
DeleteThank you, it's a pleasure to look at your photos of Kenilworth Castle and imagine what it might have looked like. I would like to walk along the old walls to take a closer look at everything.
ReplyDeleteA warm greeting comes from Viola
Thanks :-)
Thank you Viola for your generous comment - may be one day you too might have an opportunity to visit Kenilworth Castle.
DeleteHello Rosemary
ReplyDeleteStopping by to say thank you for your kind thoughts and condolences on Eddies passing.
I do hope to get back to regular blogging soon.
In the meantime, my thanks again to you.
All the best Jan
PS You do take and include such lovely photographs for your posts
Hello Jan - I was profoundly sad to learn about Eddie and do hope that you have plenty of help and support during this difficult time.
DeleteI appreciate your kind comment re the photos - thank you.
Beautiful post with awesome photos. I feel like I've done a virtual tour.
ReplyDeleteThank your for your visit and kind comment.
DeleteWow that is an impressive roof. Even after all these years it's still a fine building, obviously very well constructed. Your photos are stunning.
ReplyDeleteIf you are ever on one of your little trips in that area Kenilworth is well worth a visit.
DeleteHello again, Rosemary. Perpetua here. I've been away from blogging for a long time, but have finally made a return. It's lovely to see some things haven't changed, including your beautiful posts with such wonderful images. I've just started a new blog, because my life has changed so much.
ReplyDeletehttps://staying-put.blogspot.com/
Really happy to learn that you are back Kathy - I am still plodding along but not so regularly now.
DeleteNone of us do things as regularly and energetically as we once did, Rosemary. I don't see myself posting anywhere near as much as I did in the early years of blogging, but that's OK. Anno Domini and all that...
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathy - your encouraging comment arrived at just the right time.
DeleteYesterday we had a particularly stressful day which years ago we would have taken in our stride. We were visiting one our Granddaughters in Bristol for the afternoon followed by supper, but on the country road that leads down to Bath from where we live our front tyres were damaged courtesy a pot hole. After a stressful 8 miles we spotted a small country garage, which as luck would have it, had a tyre repair and replacement service round at the back - what a relief. Driving through Bristol is stressful enough without the added complication buying new tyres, but we've survived to tell the tale.
Oh, you poor things. I know just what you mean about these contretemps being so much more stressful than they were when we were younger. I'm glad you were able to get it sorted out and that it didn't spoil your day.
DeleteWow! Just beautiful...
ReplyDeleteTitti
💚
DeleteLeicester's Building adds another fascinating layer to the castle's history, showcasing the opulence and grandeur of the Elizabethan era. The fact that Queen Elizabeth I spent such an extended period there, surrounded by her court, underscores the importance of the castle during her reign.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these insights and images of such historically rich sites. Wishing you a lovely weekend, and you’re invited to read my new blog post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2022/10/how-to-break-out-of-nzu-addiction.html
Given different circumstances it is thought that the Earl of Leicester and Queen Elizabeth 1 would have married.
DeleteAn interesting post. I hadn't realised Kenilworth Castle was so well preserved.
ReplyDeleteIf ever you are in the area then it is well worth a visit Jenny.
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