The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-06-16

This summer an historic pageant or
peculiar interest Is to be given at
Warwick castle, famous medieval
castle in mid-EnglSnd. There are to
be depicted 10 centuries of the his.
tory Of the town Of Warwick. Druids
will be summoned from out the dim
pagan past, before the eyes OF the
wondering spectators will parade
queens and kings long since moldered
to dust, ecclesiastics and barons, fam
Gus law makers and famous law break
ers
The town of Warwick is situated on
the Avon, not very far from Stratford;
and not very far from another town OF
less fame but decided commercial i'm
portance Birmingham. First War
wick was a British settlement, about
so A. D., Roman fortress. In 915
the town was rebuilt by Ethelfleda,
daughter of King Alfred. The most
notable edifice in the town is War
wick castle, principal residence of the
earls OF Warwick. The castle. beauti-
full for situation and having such close
connection with various periods of
English history, is a most fitting place
for an historic pageant
Writing In House and Garden, P.
d. Ditchfield says: Few Of the his
toric houses of England can compare
with Warwick castle in regard to Ell
ther its natural beauty or it's wealth
of historical associations. 1t possesses
all the characteristics of a medieval
fortress Of great strength and grand
eur, and may be selected as one of the
best examples in England Of the cas-
tie OF ancient days which played no
inconsiderable part in the times of civ
il strife and in the political revolu-
tions of our country's annals, Most Of
our castles are in ruins. They were
held by royalists in the great civil
war, and. were 'slighted' by Cromwell
ing themselves thorns in the side Of
the parliamentary party. Warwick,
having been held by Lord Brooke,
who fought on Cromwells side, was
spared, and therefore retains to-day all
the features of its former greatness,
delightful study for the student of
the military architecture OF the mid
die ages"
When King Alfreds militant daugh-
ter built the strong fortification,
called the Doungeon, the defense was
made against the Danes. Warwick
was saved for time, but in 1016
down swooped the Danish invaders and
almost destroyed the fortress. Then
we come to the day Of William the
Norman, and find the Conqueror, at
once realizing the value Of position
of natural strength, ordered the town
and castle of Warwick fortified. In
the reigns of Henry H., Richard |. and
John considerable sums were spent in
repair of the walls and maintenance
of a garrison. In the troublous days
when Simon de Montfort led a revolt
against the king, Warwick castle was
attacked, the castle held for the king
by William Maduit. earl of Warwick,
and de Montfort wrought great de-
struction-"nothing Of value was left
save the herbage IN the castle
ditches."
The castle and title now passed to
the very powerful Beauchamps and to
certain members of this family War
wick castle owes much of its strength
Thomas Beauchamp who flourished in
the fourteenth century, erected
Caesars tower and St. Mary's church;
his son built Guys tower. Richard,
son OF the last named Thomas. proved
himself mighty soldier added to the
might of the name Of Beauchamp and
Of Warwick, and Richards son at
tanned such favor with his sovereign,
Henry VI. AS to be crowned king Of
the Isle of Wight But great families
pass away; the Beauchamps fail the
Neyilles arise.
We now come to that Warwick
styled the king maker. Richard Ne
vile. His marriage to Anne Beau.
champ brought him the lands OF the
Warwick family, and was created earl
of Warwick with succession to the
heirs Of mis- wife We find the new
carl Of Warwick the most important