1 I. Argument Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Head of State of the United Kindo! of "reat #ritain and $orthern Ireland% and also Co!!on&ealth. The !onarch's direct (o&ers these days are li!ited) as a constitutional so*erein T nor!ally acts on the ad*ice of her !inisters+ ne*ertheless the o*ern!ent% the jud ar!ed ser*ices all act in the Queen's na!e and she is an i!(ortant sy!bol of nation is ,e(t closely infor!ed about all as(ects of national life and the -ri!e Minister audience &ith her. The Queen has certain residual (reroati*e' (o&ers &hich include the a((oint!ent o Minister and rantin the dissolution of -arlia!ent. /s &ell as bein Head of the Co!!on&ealth% the Queen is Head of State of si0teen of four !e!ber countries. Many of the Queen's duties are cere!onial and a re!inder of Kindo!e's lon history. They include the State 2(enin of -arlia!ent% The Queen's -arade% state *isits and the "arter 3ay celebrations. The Queen is officially in residence at Windsor t&ice a year) in /(ril and also in annual "arter Ser*ice is held in St "eore's Cha(el &ith the installation of ne& Kn Castle is used alternately &ith #uc,inha! -alace for cere!onials *isits fro! Heads other countries. The Queen and her fa!ily also s(end !ost of their (ri*ate &ee,ends Castle. I'*e chosen this to(ic due to fascinatin architecture style% intriuin history beneath its &alls. Windsor Castle is one of the !ajor re(ositories of the 5 &here inco!(arable &or,s of art are dis(layed in the historic settin for &hich the collected or co!!issioned by successi*e !onarchs. #ecause of the Status of the buil &or,in royal (alace% objects are so!eti!es !o*ed. -ictures and &or, of art are als lent to e0hibitions all o*er the &orld% so the arrane!ent !ay *ary fro! ti!e to ti
Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and also Head of the Commonwealth.The monarch’s direct powers these days are limited: as a constitutional sovereign The Queen normally acts on the advice of her ministers; nevertheless the government, the judges and the armed services all act in the Queen’s name and she is an important symbol of national unity. She is kept closely informed about all aspects of national life and the Prime Minister has a weekly audience with her.
Citation preview
I. Argument
Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is
Head of State of the United Kindo! of "reat #ritain and $orthern
Ireland% and also Head of the
Co!!on&ealth.
The !onarch's direct (o&ers these days are li!ited) as a
constitutional so*erein The Queen
nor!ally acts on the ad*ice of her !inisters+ ne*ertheless the
o*ern!ent% the judes and the
ar!ed ser*ices all act in the Queen's na!e and she is an i!(ortant
sy!bol of national unity. She
is ,e(t closely infor!ed about all as(ects of national life and the
-ri!e Minister has a &ee,ly
audience &ith her.
The Queen has certain residual (reroati*e' (o&ers &hich
include the a((oint!ent of the -ri!e
Minister and rantin the dissolution of -arlia!ent.
/s &ell as bein Head of the Co!!on&ealth% the Queen is Head
of State of si0teen of its fifty1
four !e!ber countries. Many of the Queen's duties are cere!onial
and a re!inder of the United
Kindo!e's lon history. They include the State 2(enin of -arlia!ent%
The Queen's #irthday
-arade% state *isits and the "arter 3ay celebrations.
The Queen is officially in residence at Windsor t&ice a year)
in /(ril and also in 4une% &hen the
annual "arter Ser*ice is held in St "eore's Cha(el &ith the
installation of ne& Knihts. The
Castle is used alternately &ith #uc,inha! -alace for
cere!onials *isits fro! Heads of State of
other countries. The Queen and her fa!ily also s(end !ost of their
(ri*ate &ee,ends at the
Castle.
I'*e chosen this to(ic due to fascinatin architecture style%
intriuin art collection and the
history beneath its &alls. Windsor Castle is one of the !ajor
re(ositories of the 5oyal Collection%
&here inco!(arable &or,s of art are dis(layed in the
historic settin for &hich they &ere
collected or co!!issioned by successi*e !onarchs. #ecause of the
Status of the buildin as a
&or,in royal (alace% objects are so!eti!es !o*ed. -ictures and
&or, of art are also fre6uently
II. The Development of the Castle
The e0istin *ast structure has e*ol*ed o*er the !any centuries fro!
its oriin as a $or!an
fortress. Windsor Castle is the oldest royal residence to ha*e
re!ained in continuous use by
the !onarchs of #ritain and is in !any &ays an architectural
e(ito!e of the history of the
nation.
The Castle co*ers an area of about 7 hectares 89: acres; and
contains% as &ell as a royal
(alace% a !anificent colleiate church and the ho!es or
&or,(laces of a lare nu!ber of
(eo(le% includin the Constable and "o*ernor of the Castle%
the Military Knihts of Windsor
and the 3ean and Canons of St "eore's Cha(el .
The earliest (art of the structure is the artificial earthen !ound
in the !iddle &hich &as
raised c.9<=< by Willia! the Con6ueror. It su((orts the 5ound
To&er built by Henry II% &ho
ada(ted a (urely defensi*e fortification as a residence by buildin
the first royal a(art!ents
on the north side of the U((er Ward.
The U((er Ward &as con*erted into a hue "othic (alace by
a succession of !edie*al
,ins% notably Ed&ard III in the fourteenth century. He also
founded the 2rder of the "arter
and the associated Collee of St "eore in the >o&er
Ward.
Ed&ard I? built the (resent St "eore's Cha(el in the
fifteenth century. Charles II
reconstructed the State /(art!ents in #aro6ue taste in the
9@A<s% and the &hole of the U((er
Ward &as reconstructed to its (resent (ictures6ue "othic
a((earance and the 5ound To&er
heihtened by "eore I? in the 9=B<s.
He &as also res(onsible for a ac6uirin !uch of the !anificent
art collection &hich no&
fills the roo!s of the Castle. ollo&in a serious fire in 9DDB%
a ne& roof &as desined for St
"eore's Hall% and the adjoinin >antern >obby and the -ri*ate
Cha(el &ere rebuilt in
!odern "othic style.
1.Orgns
The Castle &as founded by Willia! the Con6ueror c.9<=< as
one of the chain of
fortifications round >ondon. It occu(ies the only natural
defensi*e side in this (art of the
Tha!es ?alley% :< !eters 89<< feet; abo*e the ri*er.
$or!an castles &ere built to a standard (lan &ith an
artificial !ount 8!otte; su((ortin a
,ee(% the entrance to &hich &as (rotected by a fenced yard
or bailey. Windsor is the !ost
notable e0a!(le of a distincti*e *ersion of the (lan de*elo(ed for
use on a ride% &ith baileys
on both sides on central !otte.
When first built% the Castle &as entirely defensi*e% but easy
access fro! >ondon and
(ro0i!ity to the old royal huntin forest 8no& Windsor
"reat -ar,; soon reco!!ended it as
a royal residence. Henry I had do!estic 6uarters &ithin the
Castle as early as 999< and Henry
II built t&o se(arate sets of a(art!ents% a stat residence in
the >o&er Ward% &ith a hall &here
he could entertain his court on rate occasions and a s!aller
residence on the north side if the
U((er Ward for his fa!ily's e0clusi*e occu(ation.
Henry II also bean to re(lace the ti!ber outer &alls of the
U((er Ward in stone. The
basic curtain &all% !odified by later alterations% dates
fro! Henry II ti!e% as does the 5ound
To&er on the to( of the !otte. The curtain &all around the
>o&er Ward &as co!(leted o*er
the ne0t si0ty years. The &ell1(reser*ed section *isible fro!
the Hih Street &ith three half1
round to&ers &as built by Henry III in the 9BB<s. He
carried out e0tensi*e &or,s at Windsor%
rebuildin Henry II's a(art!ents in the >o&er Ward and addin
a ne& Cha(el+ (arts sur*i*e
e!bedded in later structures in the >o&er Ward. He also
further i!(ro*ed the royal
a(art!ents in the U((er Ward.
!. "e#eval Re$onstru$ton
The outstandin !edie*al e0(ansion of Windsor too, (lace in
the rein of Ed&ard III
89:7A1AA;. The Castle &as con*erted into a "othic (alace and
the seat of the ne& 2rder of the
"rater. The !assi*e architecture of Windsor reflects Ed&ard
III' s !edie*al ideal of Christian%
chi*alric !onarchy as clearly as >ouis I?' s ?ersailles
re(resents se*enteenth1century
centralization and 3i*ine 5iht.
ounded on @ /uust 9:F=% the Collee co!(ro!ised the 3ean% t&el*e
Canons% and thirteen
?icars1Choral to conduct reular ser*ices. In addition there
&ere to be t&enty1si0 -oor Knihts
to re(resent the Knihts of the "arter at daily ser*ices.
The reconstruction of the U((er Ward bean in 9:7A under the
direction of Willia! of
Wy,eha!% #isho( of Winchester. /n inner atehouse &ith
cylindrical to&ers 8no& !isleadinly
called G$or!an "ate; &as built. Stone1*aulted undercrofts
8&hich sur*i*ed; su((orted
e0tensi*e royal a(art!ents on the first floor &ith se(arate
roo!s for the Kin and Queen 8in the
tradition of Enlish royal (alaces;% arraned round inner courtyards.
/lon the south side% facin
the 6uadranle% &ere the "reat Hall and 5oyal Cha(el end to
end.
Ed&ard III's State /(art!ents sur*i*ed do&n to the
se*enteenth century% the later !edie*al
,ins hardly alterin the!. Ed&ard I? built the (resent St
"eore's Cha(el to the &est of Henry
III's Cha(el. 8no& the /lbert Me!orial Cha(el; at its east end+
he also added a ne& rane to the
&est of the State /(art!ents &hich Elizabeth I e0tended by
a >on allery 8all no& occu(ied by
the 5oyal >ibrary;. Henry ?III built the entrance ate&ay to
the >o&er Ward% and his dauhter%
Queen Mary% built the lodins for the Military Knihts on the south
side of the >o&er Ward.
3urin the Enlish Ci*il War in the !id1se*enteenth century% the
Castle &as seized by
-arlia!entary forces that used it as a (rison.
5
2n the 5estoration of the !onarchy in 9@@< Charles II deter!ined
to reinstate Windsor as his
(rinci(al non1!etro(olitan (alace.
The architect Huh May &as a((ointed in 9@A: to su(er*ise the
&or,% &hich too, ele*en years
to co!(lete. May ,e(t the bloc,y% castellated e0terior but
reularized the ele*ations and inserted
round arched &indo&s% so!e of &hich are still *isible
today.
The interior &as a rich contrast and contained the randest
#aro6ue State /(art!ents in
Enland. The arrane!ent of du(licated sets for the Kin and Queen
&as ,e(t but e0(anded. The
&alls &ere &ainscoted in oa, and festooned &ith
brilliant *irtuoso car*ins by "rinlin "ibbons
and Henry -hilli(s. The ceilins &ere (ainted by /ntonio ?errio%
an Italian artist brouht to
Windsor fro! -aris by the 3u,e of Montau. 2nly those in the Queen's
-resence and /udience
Cha!bers and the Kin's 3inin 5oo! ha*e sur*i*ed% but the eneral
for! and (ro(ortions of
the State /(art!ents are as created by Charles II.
When "eore I? inherited the throne in 9=B<% he deter!ined to
continue the "othic
transfor!ation of the e0terior and the creation of co!fortable and
s(lendid ne& royal
a(art!ents. In his (ro(osals for Windsor% "eore I? &as
influenced by his chief artistic ad*iser%
Sir Charles >on. It &as decided in 9=B: to hold a li!ited
co!(etition for the &or, and >on
dre& u( a! infor!al brief. Its (rinci(al (oints &ere the
heihtenin of Henry II's 5ound To&er%
the eneral enhance!ent of the silhouette &ith e0tra to&ers
and battle!ents% the addition of the
"rand Corridor round the U((er Ward% the creation of the creation
of Waterloo Cha!ber to
celebrate the /llied *ictory o*er $a(oleon% the continuation u( to
the Castle of the >on Wal,
instituted by Charles II% and the !a,in of the Kin "eore I?
"ate&ay. Three leadin
architects% Sir 4ohn Soane% Sir 5obert S!ir,e and 4ohn $ash%
&ere as,ed to sub!it (lans% as &as
the late 4a!es Wyatt's ne(he& 4effrey. The job &as i*en to
the last na!ed. He carried out
>on's (rora!!e to the last detail% creatin the (resent
a((earance of the U((er Ward% earnin
a ,nihthood and !edie*alisin his surna!e to Wyat*ille. Inside the
Castle ne& (ri*ate roo!s
&ere !ade as a settin for "eore I?'s rich collections % and the
old Hall and Cha(el &ere
,noc,ed toether to create a *ast "othic1re*i*al St "eore's Hall.
Charles II's state roo!s &ere
refurbished% this &or, continuin 8still under Wyat*ille's
direction; into the rein of Willia! I?.
6
In !any &ays Windsor Castle reached its a(oee in the
rein of Queen ?ictoria. She s(ent the
reatest (ortion of e*ery year at Windsor% and in her rein it
enjoyed the (osition of (rinci(al
(alace of the #ritish !onarchy and the ocus of the #ritish
E!(ire as &ell as the &hole of royal
Euro(e 8!any !e!bers of &hich &ere the Queen's relations;.
The Castle &as *isited by Heads
of State fro! all o*er the &orld. 2n these occasions the state
roo!s &ere used for their oriinal
(ur(ose by royal uests.
2n B< $o*e!ber 9DDB a serious fire bro,e out in the -ri*ate
Cha(el at the north1east anle of
the U((er Ward. It is thouht to ha*e been caused by a s(otliht
initin a curtain hih u( o*er
the altar. 3es(ite the efforts of the Castle staff and the briade%
the fire s(read ra(idly at the roof
le*el% destroyin the ceilins of "eore I?'s St "eore's Hall and
"rand 5ece(tion 5oo!% the
Cri!son 3ra&in 5oo! and *arious subsidiary roo!s. #y reat ood
fortune the roo!s &orst
affected by the fire &ere e!(ty at the ti!e as they &ere in
the course of bein re&ired. /s a
result fe& of the Castle's artistic treasures &ere
destroyed. The (rinci(al casualties &ere a fitted
sideboard and a (aintin% "eore III at a 5e*ie& by Sir Willia!
#eechey% both of &hich &ere too
bi to !o*e.
The &or, of re(air bean i!!ediately after the fire% and
&as co!(leted in $o*e!ber 9DDA.
There &as considerable debate about the restoration of Windsor)
should the da!aed roo!s be
co!(letely restored or re(laced fro! scratch T&o co!!ittees
&ere set u( to su(er*ise the
&or,1 a eneral 5estoration Co!!ittee% chaired by the 3u,e of
Edinburh+ and an /rt and
3esin Co!!ittee% chaired by the -rince of Wales. In the e*ent the
da!aed roo!s &ere
restored to the oriinal "eore I? and Wyat*ille desins% but those
areas &hich had been totally
destroyed1 includin the old -ri*ate Cha(el% the Holbein 5oo! and
the roof of St "eore's Hall1
&ere rebuilt to har!onious ne& desins. The Sidell "ibson
-artnershi( &as chosen out of a
short1list of four architects. Their ai! has been to create !odern
"othic% oriinal in its detail% but
continuin in a lon Enlish tradition stretchin bac, al!ost
&ithout brea, to the Middle /es.
The >antern >obby is the (rinci(al ne& interior in the
Castle. It is notable for its fine (ro(ortions
and the inenious handlin of s(ace to create interestin *istas and
connections% as &ell as for its
fine crafts!anshi(.
7
I%. The &pper 'ar# an# (orth Terra$e Tour of the
castle
?isitors !a,e their &ay to the State /(art!ents in the U((er
Ward% &al,in (ast the south and
&est sides of the 5ound To&er on the stee( artificial !otte
constructed by order of Willia! the
Con6ueror. The 5ound To&er itself &as built in stone by
Henry II in 99A<% and e0tended
u(&ards by Wayat*ille in 9=B=1:< for "eore I? to i!(ro*e the
o*erall silhouette.
Entrance to the State /(art!ents is ained fro! the $orth Terrace%
&hich enjoys e0tensi*e
*ie&s o*er the Tha!es to Eton &ith the (ictures6ue outline
of the fifteenth1century Collee
Cha(el and >u(ton's To&er% the MF !otor&ay% the !odern
to&n of Slouh and in the distance
the &ooded #uc,inha!shire landsca(e. The &hite1(ainted
do!ed house *isible in the !iddle
distance is Sto,e -ar,% desined by 4a!es Wyatt for 4ohn -enn%
randson of the founder of
-ennsyl*ania. The $orth Terrace &as oriinally constructed in
the si0teenth century by Henry
?III and &idened by Charles II. To the east of the entrance
hall is Queen Mary's 3olls' House%
dis(layed in a s(ecially desined roo!.
%. The State Apartments
8
This is the third staircase to the !ain floor since the restoration
of the Castle &as beun by
"eore III in the late eihteen century. 4a!es Wyatt constructed a
staircase in the s(ace no&
occu(ied by the "rand ?estibule. Wyat*ille re!o*ed it and built a
ne& staircase on the (resent
site% by roofin o*er the !edie*al #ric, Court. This arrane!ent% in
turn% &as considered
incon*enient and the (resent staircase on a re*ised alin!ent
&as contri*ed by /nthony Sal*in
in 9=@@.
The staircase is filled &ith liht fro! a lazed ti!ber carried
on four stone arches. The &alls
are lined &ith tro(hies of ar!s &hich (er(etuate
arrane!ents oriinally &or,ed out by Sir
Sa!uel 5ush Meyric,% &ho &as ,nihted by Wilia! I? for his
&or,. The lare !arble statue of
"eore I? on the half1landin sur*i*es fro! Wyat*ille's desin and
co!!e!orates the !onarch
&ho is larely res(onsible for the (resent a((earance of Windsor
Castle. It &as car*ed by Sir
rancis Chantrey in 9=B=1:B.
The Grand Vestibule
This &as the to( of 4a!es Wyatt's staircase. When first built%
the central lantern &as :<
!eters 89<< feet; abo*e floor le*el. The handso!e (laster fan
*ault% &ith naturalistic foliae
bosses and anels% &as e0ecuted by rancis #ernasconi% a
(lasterer of enius &ho first &or,ed at
Windsor under 4a!es Wyatt% but continued under Wyat*ille. The lazed
"othic sho&cases round
the sides of the roo! &ere !ade in 9=== to dis(lay Queen
?ictoria's "olden 4ubilee (resents.
They no& contain a collection of ar!s% includin tro(hies fro!
the con6uest of Serina(ata! in
India in 9ADD and the $a(oleonic Wars J not least the lead bullet
that ,illed $elson at Trafalar
in 9=<7. The roo! is do!inated by a statue of Queen ?ictoria by
4ose(h #oeh! 89=A9;
The King’s ra!ing "oo#
$
This &as the third roo! in the Kin's State /(art!ents. It and
the follo&in roo!s are
Charles II's additions to the Castle% (artly redecorated in the
late eihteenth and early nineteenth
centuries. In the nineteenth century this and the adjoinin roo!s
&ere all occu(ied as a suite by
state *isitors% but they ha*e been su(erseded by !ore co!fortable
bedroo!s on the south side of
the Castle. Today they are !ainly used for the dis(lay of &or,s
of art fro! the 5oyal Collection.
In the nineteenth century the Kin's 3ra&in 5oo! &as
,no&n as the 5ubens 5oo! fro!
the (aintins by 5ubens and his school &hich still han here
today. -rince /lbert de*elo(ed the
the!e of hanin (articular rou(s of (aintins in (articular roo!s%
&hich the *isitor &ill note
&hile oin round the State /(art!ents. Wyat*ille's eo!etrical
(laster ceilin is e!bellished
&ith the ar!s of "eore I? and the "arter Star. Sadly% it
re(laces one of ?errio's !ost a!bitious
(aintins% sho&in Charles II triu!(hant in a chariot%
scatterin his ene!ies. It &as one of a
series of thirteen (ainted ceilins that celebrated the 5estoration
of the Enlish !onarchy in
9@@<. They all had fulso!ely 5oyalist subjects% and &ere
influenced by Charles >ebrun's &or,
for >uis I? at ?ersailles.
The se*enteenth1century car*ed cornice by "rinlin "ibbons &ith
its cris(ly car*ed acanthus
lea*es sur*i*es% as do the (aneled dado and =1(anelled doors. "eore
III re(laced the oa, &all
(anels &ith briht da!as,. In his ti!e it &as "arter
blue+ "eore I? chaned it to cri!son. $o&
it is yello&. The early nineteenth1century Siena !arble
chi!ney(iece &as desined by Wyat*ille%
&ho also added the lare bay &indo& fro! &hich there
is a ood *ie& o*er Eton. "eore I?'s
body lay in state in this roo! after his death in 9=:<.
Queen ?ictoria often used the roo! for
(ri*ate theatrical (erfor!ances% a te!(orary stae bein
erected in the &indo& bay.
The King’s %ed &a#ber
"eore III re!o*ed the se*enteenth1century &ainscot fro! the
&alls and hun the! &ith
cri!son cloth 8!ost recently rene&ed in da!as,;. Wyat*ille
re(laced ?errio's (ainted ceilin of
1'
the date 9@@< to co!!e!orate the 5estoration% but ,e(t "rinlin
"ibbons' e0cellent car*ed
cornice. The &hite !arble chi!ney(iece% desined by Sir Willia!
Cha!bers% &as brouht fro!
#uc,inha! House. The bed% attributed to the rench cabinet1!a,er
"eores 4acob% &as
ac6uired by "eore I?. It &as i*en its (resent hanins of reen
and (ur(le for the State ?isit
of the E!(eror $a(oleon III in 9=77. His initials and those of
E!(ress Eunie are e!broidered
on the foot of the bed. The E!(eror &as in*ested &ith the
2rder of the "arter by Queen ?ictoria
&hile he &as at Windsor.
The King’s ressing "oo#
This roo!% thouh not lare% !a,es u( for its s!all scale in the
su(erb 6uality of the
(aintins hanin in it. It is arraned as a (icture cabinet and
contains so!e of the finest s!all
!aster(ieces in the 5oyal Collection% includin (ortraits by
Holbein% 3Lrer% Me!lin% 5ubens
and 5e!brant. 2*er the fire(lace hans ?an 3yc,'s fa!ous (ortrait of
Charles I fro! three
anles. This &as (ainted to send to #ernini in 5o!e% to assist
hi! in car*in a !arble bust of the
Kin. The bust &as lost in the fire that destroyed Whitehall
-alace in 9@D=. The car*ed &ooden
cornice by "rinlin "ibbons and the (aneled dado sur*i*e fro! the
ti!e of Charles II. Here% as
in the other state roo!s% the &alls &ere stri((ed of
&ainscot and hun &ith cri!son cloth by
"eore III. Willia! I? eli!inated the old (ainted ceilin and
installed the e0istin !oulded
(laster desin s(ortin his o&n !onora! and ar!s% &hile
the anchors and tridents recall his
career In the $a*y before he ascended the throne. The handso!e
&hite !arble chi!ney(iece
&as brouht fro! Queen Charlotte's #rea,fast 5oo! at #uc,inha!
House. Kin Charles II
actually sle(t in this roo! rather than in his state bedroo! ne0t
door% &hich he used for the
official cere!ony of le*ee 8risin% restin and recei*in; and (ri*ate
business.
%I. The Lo)er 'ar#
St *eorge+s Chapel
St "eore's Cha(el is the s(iritual ho!e of the 2rder of the "arter%
#ritain's senior 2rder of
Chi*alry% founded by Kin Ed&ard III in 9:F=. St "eore is the
(atron saint of the 2rder. The
11
roofed in &ood. His son1in1la&% Kin Henry ?II% co!(leted
the na*e and added the stone1
*aulted ceilin throuhout before his death in 97<D. The
architecture of the Cha(el ran,s a!on
the finest e0a!(les of -er(endicular "othic% the late !edie*al
style of Enlish architecture. /s
So*erein of the 2rder of the "arter% The Queen attends a ser*ice
here in 4une each year%
toether &ith the Knihts and >adies of the 2rder. Ten
so*ereins are buried in the Cha(el% all
re(resented by !anificent to!bs.
The Al,ert "emoral Chapel
The richly decorated interior of this fifteenth1century cha(el
&as created by "eore "ilbert
Scott for Queen ?ictoria to co!!e!orate her husband -rince /lbert%
&ho died in 9=@9. The
*aluated ceilin has old !osaic by /ntonio Sal*iati. The inlaid
!arble (anels by Henry de
Tri6ueti around the lo&er &alls de(ict scenes for!
Scri(ture. The !arble effiy of -rince /lbert
hi!self is also by Tri6ueti. The Cha(el is no& do!inated by
/lfred "ilbert's !aster(iece% the
to!b of the 3u,e of Clarence and /*ondale 8elder son of Ed&ard
?II;.
The Lo)er 'ar#
The >o&er Ward is occu(ied by the Collee of St "eore%
founded by Ed&ard III as (art of the
2rder of the "arter. 2n the left% as one descends the hill% are
lodins of the Military Knihts%
and beyond is the Henry ?III "ate&ay. /t the botto! is the
"uard House 89=@B;. Most of the
riht1hand side is occu(ied by St "eore's Cha(el and the /lbert
Me!orial Cha(el. #ehind is a
&arren of !edie*al cloisters and buildins for!in the houses and
offices of the clery attached
to the Cha(el% includin the choir school. These ha*e de*elo(ed o*er
the centuries o*er the
centuries out of Henry III's buildins in the >o&er
Ward.
%II. Con$luson
Windsor Castle has (erha(s the !ost uni6ue architectural style% as
it co!bines the features of a
fortification% a (alace and a s!all to&n. The (resent1day
castle &as created durin a se6uence of
(hased buildin (rojects% cul!inatin in the reconstruction
&or, after a fire in 9DDB.7N It is in
essence a "eorian and ?ictorian desin based on a
!edie*al structure% &ith "othic features
rein*ented in a !odern style. Since the 9Fth century% architecture
at the castle has atte!(ted to
(roduce a conte!(orary reinter(retation of older fashions and
traditions% re(eatedly i!itatin
out!oded or e*en anti6uated styles.@N /s a result% architect
Sir Willia! Whitfield has (ointed to
Windsor CastleOs architecture as ha*in Pa certain ficti*e 6ualityP%
the -ictures6ue and "othic
desin eneratin Pa sense that a theatrical (erfor!ance is bein (ut
on hereP
In !y (oint of *ie& this structure (ro*ides us &ith an
e0a!(le of a !aster(iece% uni6ue in its
&ay% rese!blin so !any as(ects as its rich history is e0(andin
o*er 9<<< years.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and the larest occu(ied castle in the
&orld. Within its &alls &e !ay
find (erha(s one of the !ost beautiful ecclesiastical buildins in
Enland and the burial (lace of
9< !onarchs 1 St. "eore's Cha(el and !any other features that
&ill astonish.
-oo/s0
• #ro&n% 5einald /llen. 89D=F; The Architecture of
Castles: A Visual Guide.
>ondon) #atsford.
>ondon) Michael 4ose(h.
• 5obinson% 4ohn Martin. 8B<9<; Windsor Castle: the
Official Illustrated
History.
htt()**!!!+!indsor+go/+u,
1nnees
The 3re of $$2 and the restoration (rocess
n 2' o/e#ber 1$$2 a serious re bro,e out in the ri/ate
&ha(el at the northeast angle of the ((er -ard+ The !or,
of
re(air began i##ediatel0 after the re9 and !as co#(leted in
o/e#ber 1$$7+ :n the e/ent the da#aged roo#s !ere restored
designs9 but those areas !hich had been totall0 destro0ed
The *ran# Star$ase
The <antern <obb0 is the (rinci(al ne! interior in the
&astle+ :t is notable for its ne
(ro(ortions and the ingenious handling of s(ace to create
interesting /istas and
connections9 as !ell as for its ne crafts#anshi(+
The Grand Staircase is lled !ith light fro# a gla=ed ti#ber
carried on four stone
arches+ The !alls are lined !ith tro(hies of ar#s
The 2ueen+s -allroom
The 2ueen+s 1resen$e Cham,er
16
St George’s &ha(el is the s(iritual ho#e of the rder of the
Garter9
%ritain’s senior rder of &hi/alr09 founded b0 King Bd!ard :::
in
1348+ St George is the (atron saint of the rder+ The building of
the