2017

SP2772 : Leicester's Building and the Great Tower

taken 7 years ago, near to Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England

Leicester's Building and the Great Tower
Leicester's Building and the Great Tower
Leicester's Building and the Great Tower in Kenilworth Castle. Originally there was a defensive a wall and a building connecting these two buildings, this was destroyed in 1650 when the castle was slighted, made undefendable, after the English Civil War.
Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle is one of Britain’s largest and most impressive historic sites. It began as a mediaeval fortress and became an Elizabethan Palace.

Geoffrey de Clinton began the massive Norman keep at the core of the fortress in the 1120s, and under Henry II Kenilworth became a royal castle. King John greatly strengthened it between 1210 and 1215, enlarging the surrounding watery 'mere' which effectively made it an island stronghold. Thus it could withstand an epic siege in 1266, when rebellious barons held out against Henry III's siege engines for six months, succumbing only to starvation.

During the late 14th century John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, rebuilt the splendid great hall and staterooms of Kenilworth's inner court, beginning the castle's transition into a palace and favourite residence of the Lancastrian and early Tudor kings.

However, the castle is probably best known as the home of Robert Dudley, the great love of Queen Elizabeth I. Dudley, Earl of Leicester, took possession of the castle in 1563. He then lavished fortunes on converting it into a great Renaissance 'prodigy house', designed to receive the queen and her close servants on her visits to Kenilworth in 1572 and 1575 during their ceremonial 'progresses' around her realm.

LinkExternal link - History of Kenilworth Castle (English Heritage)


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Philip Halling and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Castle: Kenilworth Primary Subject: Castle other tags: Castle Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
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SP2772, 366 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Philip Halling   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 14 September, 2017   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 19 September, 2017
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 2787 7227 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:20.8679N 1:35.5372W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 2788 7226
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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