The suburban citizen., 1901-03-09
THE STORY OF WINDSOR.
An English Castle Since the Norma

Conquest.
Those Of us who have passed pleas
ant hours wandering roundabout
Windsor Castle are very vividly TO.
minded of it by the sad ceremoniea
performed there recently. The history
OF Windsor Castle Is the history of
England since the Norman Conquest.
Edward the Confessor granted the
site Of the castle and the town TO the
Abbot Of Westminster, but william
the Conqueror was so struck with the
beauty Of the surrounding scenery and
the Importance Of the situation as n
military post that he traded with the
Abbot for some lands in Essex, and
erected a fortress, which Henry the
First enlarged
Court was first held in the new pal
ace in ITO, after which it was often
the scene of regal festivities.
Stephen during his reign considered
it only next in Importance as a strong
hold to the Tower Of London.
Henry II. held a parliament within
It's walls in ITO, when, in additi "a to
the English Barons, King William Of
Scotland was present.
Nothing but the fear Of treachery
prevented Windsor from being associ-
oted with Magma Charta, instead of
the neighborng plain Of Runnymede,
where the meeting Of the Barons and
King John took place.
Contending factions alternately had
possession of the castle during the
reign Of Henry Ill, and many altera-
tions were made during that period.
Indeed, the only parts which remain
exactly as in the time Of Henry III.
are the towers on the western wall,
and even these have been refaced.
While alterations were going ON in
1852, some houses being pulled down
in Thames street, a subterranean pass.
age, from the Garter tower to the bot
tom Of the ditch with the masonry in
good condition, was discovered The
magnitude of this is appreciated by
looking down the precipitous Castle
slopes" from the heights Of the north
terrace, This noble promenade was
added by Queen Elizabeth.
Another sally port" was discovered
later on the south side, but is probably
later than Henry III.
Windsor was the principal residence
Of the first and second Edwards, and
here Edward III. was born.
Edward Ill, who instituted the no
bic Order of the Garter, rebuilt the
castle almost entirely, employing VIII
liam de Wykcham Bishop of Winches-
teri as superintendent OF the works at
a weekly salary Of seven shillings,
with three more for his clerk. He
also rebuilt the chapel of ST. George
In 1854, August 3, Queen Mary and
her cOnsort Philip II. of Spain, made
their grand public entry into Windsor.
To Charles l. this castle was first q
palace and then n prison.
Charles H., the merry Monarch"
took up his residence here after the
restoration, and made alterations
rather than improvements. His in.
terror changes are not criticised how
ever.
Noble avenues of elm and beech
trees, and park improvements general
ly marked the regimes OF William III.
and Queen Anne.
George l., who frequently resided
here, introduced the Continental GUS
tom Of dining in public every Thurs
day.
George III. made it his chief resi-
dence. Mainly out of his own private
purse he restored the north front,
renovated the Chapel Royal and built
the Royal Vault.
In 1928 when George w. took up
his residence here, began the enormous
expenditure that made the castle what
it is to-day.
His brother the "Sailor King" vii.
liam ~, though very popular, re-
ceived little credit for the carrying on
of this work.
But the entire plan, made by Sir
Jeffrey Wyattville, in 1924, was only
completed in the reign Of Victoria, who
is to rest here where with the Prince
Consort, she loved to live a beautiful
home life so different from the hollow
pomp and circumstance which dis
tinguished that of most of her prede-
cesSors.
Windsor Castle and Windsor town
are on the best Of terms, the latter
being the dearest, sleepiest, old place
possible.