Windsor, Berkshire - Home of Royalty for 1000 Years
The town of Windsor has many quaint and interesting buildings, a Victorian railway station. Its other main feature is the River Thames running through it and dividing it from Eton with its famous public school, Eton College, England's most famous public school and the place where many of England's most famous men were educated.
*Picture above Supplied by FreeFoto.com
Contents
- The River Thames in Windsor and Eton
- Windsor Town Centre
- Windsor Castle - History
- Visitor Attractions in Windsor Castle
- See Windsor Castle
- Royal Windsor Horse Show
- Eton
- Legoland, Windsor
- Like This Lens?
- Do you have memories of visiting Windsor or Eton?
- Stazjia's Social Networks
- About Me
- Please Vote for this Lens
The River Thames in Windsor and Eton
Windsor Town Centre

Back of Guard, Windsor Castle
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Windsor is a shopper's paradise with designer stores, boutiques, department stores and many small specialist shops.
If you want to see a real Victorian railway station, visit Windsor Station in the town centre, just across the road from the castle. Although still a working station with a line to Reading, there are also exclusive boutiques and attractive cafés.
Building of the distinctive Windsor Guildhall, in fact the the Town Hall, started in 1687. It was designed by Sir Thomas Fitz and, after his death, was completed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is built on arches and a corn market was held within them. Look at the top of the internal columns that supposedly support the building above and you will see that there is actually a space between them and the ceiling. Legend has it that the town's councillors were worried the building would collapse if it was unsupported. Sir Christopher Wren, it is said, deliberately installed columns that did not touch the structure above to prove that he was correct and the building did not need extra support. As it is still standing, over 300 years later, I think we can conclude that he was right.
It was here in April 2005 that Prince Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles followed by a blessing in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. You can see the Guildhall in the High Street, very close to the Castle.
Windsor Castle - History

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Windsor Castle
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Originally, there was a Saxon palace at Old Windsor but William the Conquerer decided to build a castle on top of a hill overlooking the river about two miles away. By 1086 the castle was listed in the Domesday Book. Since then it has continued to play its part in the history of the country.
At nearby Runnymede, in June 1215, King John, who is said to have loved the castle above all others, put his seal to the Magna Carta. Although the barons, who had forced this on him, were principally concerned with their own interests, Magna Carta enshrined, for the first time, a citizen's rights before the law. The 39th article stated:
"No free man shall be arrested or imprisoned or dispossessed or outlawed or harmed in any way save by the lawful judgement of his equals under the law of the land. Justice will not be sold to any man nor will it be refused or delayed."
The castle continued in royal use. Edward III made it his principal residence, building the Round Tower in 1348 and making alterations in other parts of the castle. As well as the residence of the Kings of England, Windsor Castle was used for keeping eminent prisoners, for example, David Bruce, King of Scotland, and John, King of France in the 14th century. During the Civil War, the castle was held by Parliament and many of its treasures were melted down. The Parliamentarians also used the castle for prisoners including the most famous of all, Charles I, kept here just before his execution and returned to the castle in his coffin.

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The King's Audience Chamber, Windsor Castle Giclee Print
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After the Restoration, Charles II did much work to restore it to its former glory as it had deteriorated badly in the years of the Commonwealth (Cromwell's time). The Sovereign Apartments were rebuilt and redesigned in lavish style with wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons and twenty ceiling paintings by Antonio Verrio, only three of which survived George IV's redecoration unfortunately.
George III was the first king to die at Windsor Castle. He was the monarch who suffered from porphyria which made people think he was mad. One of these 'mad' episodes occurred in the grounds of the castle when he stopped the carriage he was in and got out to shake an oak tree's branch, thinking he was shaking the hand of the King of Prussia.
George IV made many great changes to the castle including restoring its medieval splendour using the architect Jeffry Wyatville. Although some of Wyatville's work, particularly Gothic additions and alterations to the Upper and Middle Wards, have not been greatly admired, he did bring a sense of unity to the castle.
One of the more recent dramatic episode's in the castle's long history occurred in 1992 when 0n 20 November 1992, a fire which began in the Queen's private chapel and spread quickly. The fire lasted for 15 hours during which time it had destroyed nine of the principal state rooms, and severely damaged over 100 more-in all the larger part of the upper ward.
After the fire, government and perhaps the Royal Family appeared to assume restoration would be paid for by the government, ie from general taxation. This provoked a furious debate with public opinion coming down firmly against this plan, particularly because Royalty did not pay tax at that time. In fact, 70% of the cost, 37 billion pounds, was raised by opening Buckingham Palace to the public.
The restoration has been very successful and the difference between old and new is now hard to distinguish although some of the most damaged rooms were completely redesigned to bring them up to date.
It is the world's biggest inhabited castle and the oldest to be continuously occupied. The home of the monarch for 900 years, today, Windsor Castle is one of the Queen's three official residences.
"Is there not something brutally unfair about the fact
that it is estimated that at least £60 million will be paid out by taxpayers to the richest woman in Britain to repair one of her homes without any contribution from herself, when only 400 yards away from another of her homes, Buckingham palace, people have to live in cardboard boxes and pensioners will die this winter from hypothermia?"
Said by Dennis Skinner MP, in the House of Commons, Parliament
See the Great Fire at Windsor Castle
Visitor Attractions in Windsor Castle

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Edward Prince of Wales Weds Alexandra of Denmark in St. George's Chapel Windsor Castle Giclee Print
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Some areas of the castle are open to the public:
* The magnificent State Apartments (only when the Queen is not in residence). They contain superb furniture, paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Holbein, tapestries, porcelain, armour and sculpture. More beautiful art may be found in the Drawings Gallery where a variety of work from the Royal Library is shown.
* Queen Mary's Doll's House, a perfect little mansion designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, on the scale of 1 to 12 of normal size.
* St George's Chapel, finished in the early 16th century, is a building of particular note with a magnificent perpendicular structure displaying fine fan vaulting. As the chapel for the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348, the choir contains stalls and brasses of Garter Knights. There are also many royal tombs including those of Henry VIII, Charles I and Edward VII. More recently, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were buried here too.
*Also nearby is the Albert Memorial Chapel, originally built by King Henry VII but now used to commemorate Queen Victoria's beloved Albert.

Prince Philip of England Drives a Coach Toward Toward the Long Walk, Windsor Castle, England
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There are other areas of the castles open to visitors including:
* Exhibition of the Queen's Presents
* Exhibition of Royal Carriages
If you want to see the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle, this ceremony takes place daily, except Sunday, at 11am between April to June, the rest of the year, it only occurs on alternate days.
In the Home Park of Windsor Castle stands Frogmore House, also open to the public at certain times (check before visiting). Built in the latter part of the 17th century, it was the home of Queen Charlotte and Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent. Now it has been restored and many of the original contents returned.
Royal Windsor Horse Show

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Show Jumping Photographic Print
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It began during the Second World War in 1943 as a means of raising money in the Wings for Victory campaign. It was just one of many events held in Windsor during the campaign and the town raised nearly £400,000 that year to buy aircraft for the RAF (Royal Air Force).
At this time it was called the Windsor Horse and Dog Show but the young Princess Elizabeth (now Queen) and her sister Princess Margaret took part in the first show as competitors. In fact, Princess Elizabeth won the horse and dogcart event at the first show. Since then, the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne (now the Princess Royal) has competed in the show jumping and the Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) has competed in the carriage driving events which he has won on a number of occasions.
When it started the show was a one day event but now it covers four days. It takes place annually in May and tickets go on sale in November. During the four days there are many classes of show jumping, carriage driving and dressage. The show climaxes at the end of the final day with the famous Musical Drive of The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.
"The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton,"
said by the Duke of Wellington.
Eton

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Eton School Room, from "History of Eton College" Giclee Print
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Statue of Henry VI, the Founder, and Lupton's Tower, Eton College, Berkshire, England, UK Photographic Print
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Some of present buildings have survived from the 15th century including the kitchen, College Hall and part of the cloisters. The impressive Lupton's Tower was built in 1520. One of its most striking 15th century buildings is the chapel. Its wall paintings took eight years to complete but were whitewashed over in the mid 16th century and were only rediscovered in 1847 and cleaned and restored in 1923.
While in the area, visit Dorney Court, about 2 miles north west of Eton, a beautiful rose-pink, 15th century manor house, described by Country Life as one of the finest Tudor manor houses in England. Built in 1440, successive owners have resisted the urge to drastically alter this lovely house. It was given to Sir James Palmer by Elizabeth I and has remained in the same family ever since. The Palmer family kept strong links with royalty for Sir Roger Palmer stayed loyal to Charles II before the Restoration and was made Earl of Castlemaine afterwards. The King was also close to Sir Roger's wife, Barbara, who was his mistress for 10 years and bore him several children.
See Eton
Legoland, Windsor

Legoland, Windsor, Miniland at night, all constructed from Lego bricks.
By courtesy of Legoland, copyright © 2008 The LEGO Group
Legoland stands on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park which went into receivership in 1992. That same year Lego choose the 150 acre site for the first Legoland outside of Denmark. Planning, construction, landscaping and other preparations take four years and it opens in 1996 having used an incredible 25 million Lego bricks to construct the model buildings and other structures.

The Jungle Coaster
By courtesy of Legoland, copyright © 2008 The LEGO Group
A visit to the park offers children a unique educational adventure. Lego like to call it 'Discovery Based Education' and Legoland combines all the elements of an exciting theme park with a total learning experience. The park offers a series of Active Learning Programmes, all of which are National Curriculum relevant and especially designed to support the learning needs of children aged 3 to 13 years old.
Above all, though, Legoland is fun - it has over 50 interactive rides, attractions, live shows, building workshops and driving schools.
New for 2008, guests can explore the brand new Land of the Vikings, featuring the park's biggest and wettest ride to date, the Vikings' River Splash. Another exciting addition is the Longboat Invader that defies guests to test their sea worthiness as they sway back and forth on a Viking Longboat that sits on a 'U-shaped' track and rotates in two directions.
Add Your Favourite Books About Windsor
Add your favourite books about Windsor or Eton to this list or vote more the more already on it.
Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen by Darren McGrady
Darren McGrady began working for the Royal Family more...1 point
Blog Posts about Windsor from Google
- 4* LHR Marriott Heathrow WINDSOR - 10/29 $55 - England - London ...
- BiddingForTravel.com; > England - London Airports; > 4* LHR Marriott Heathrow WINDSOR - 10/29 $55. 0 Kudo. Search this Topic: Add Reply New Topic. Forum Jump. Administrator Announcements · Posting Guidelines · Member Announcements ...
- Hondanews.eu
- Windsor, England, 15 December 2009 - ASIMO made a special visit to historic Windsor Castle today, one of the principal official residences of the British monarch HRH Queen Elizabeth II. ASIMO had come to the castle, which is located ...
- Honda World ASIMO Travels to Windsor Castle for 'Royal ...
- This thread is about: ASIMO Travels to Windsor Castle for 'Royal' Appointment, it's in Honda News at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Windsor, England - ASIMO made a special visit to historic Windsor Castle, one of the principal official ...
Like This Lens?
Do you have memories of visiting Windsor or Eton?
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Reply
- AndyPo AndyPo Oct 31, 2009 @ 7:30 am
- Great lens. I often go to Windsor and Eton; just a short train ride from where I live in West London.
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Reply
- CDT CDT Mar 16, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
- I loved this lens so much, I made one about my hometown - Windsor's "next door neighbour" Slough!
Not as historic or classy as Windsor & Eton - but it's home :D
I've featured this lens there under "Slough's Neighbours On Squidoo" LOL
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Reply
- CDT CDT Feb 17, 2009 @ 9:11 am
- Great lens...I know Windsor and Eton very well as I live only a couple of miles away in Slough :D (I saw from your lensography that you lived in Slough for a short while too!)
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Reply
- bbug bbug Sep 8, 2008 @ 8:09 am
- Another great lens.
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Reply
- Dad-The-Lad Dad-The-Lad Jun 23, 2008 @ 8:30 am
- Excellent info Stazjia. Am planning a trip to WIndsor in 3 weeks time so very useful.
- Load More
About Me
Lensmaster Stazjia has been a member since September 26 2006, has rated 1,443 lenses, favorited 872, and has created 129 lenses from scratch. Carol Fisher donates their royalties to Dolphin Communication Project. This member's top-ranked page is "Traditional Christmas Pudding". See all my lenses
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I am English and I've spent the last 11 years writing freelance for UK magazines, a couple of books and online. More on my Lensography.

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