- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
- Messages
- 3,411
As the weather was reasonably clement, I spent a couple of hours in Warwick to look at museums I haven't seen before.
Shortly after 900, King Edward the Elder of Wessex took control of the Kingdom of Mercia. In order to defend it from the Danes, he ordered a series of fortified towns constructed and allocated land from which the defenders were to be drawn. 1200 men were to defend the ramparts of Warwick.
This wall probably follows the line of the original Anglo-Saxon defences.
The Guild Chapel of St. James was built on top of the West Gate in 1383. When the gate was extended outwards in 1450, a west tower was added to the chapel above.
The floor of the passage has been lowered at some point it seems. The half-columns in the higher part of the wall are Norman.
The lower part of the passage is cut through the rock.
Lord Leycester's Hospital... Originally dating back to the 1380's as the home of the Guild of St. George, the buildings were the home of the United Guilds until King Henry VIII abolished the guilds in 1546.
In 1571 Robert Dudley, Lord Leycester and favourite of Elizabeth I, aquired the buildings in order to provide accommodation for 12 retired soldiers.
View up the High Street from above the town gate. Warwick was sited on a noticeable hill as it was intended to be a fortress.
The East and South sides of the courtyard have remained virtually untouched since the 15th century. On the left is the Brethren's kitchen, in front the Guild Hall.
Inside the Guild Hall. Originally the private meeting place of the guilds, later part of the accommodation of the Brethren and their families until 1950 when the accommodation was modernised. The Guild Hall was built in 1450 by Neville "The Kingmaker" Earl of Warwick.
Equipment for a First World War cavalryman. This is a display in the small museum of the Queen's Own Hussars.
A fireplace dated 1571 in the Brethren's Kitchen. The cast iron range was made by Flavel in the 1850's.
Amy Robsart was the first wife of Robert Dudley. She died in mysterious circumstances and it was rumoured at the time that she had been murdered so that Robert was free to marry Queen Elizabeth.
The broad-headed arrow was a heraldic device of the Sidney family, who inherited Dudley's assets after his death. In the 17th century Henry Sidney was appointed Master General of the Ordnance and marked all the stores and equipment he was responsible for with a broad arrow, to inhibit pilfering. All military equipment is so marked to this day.
Looking towards the old Market Hall, which was built in 1670. The arches were originally open.
Anglo-Saxon sculpture in the Warwickshire Museum.
Anglo-Saxon jewellery in the Warwickshire Museum.
A hoard of Roman coins, silver denarii, found in Warwickshire, the oldest of which is nearly 2,200 years old.
The old Market Hall, now the Warwickshire Museum. The arched arcades were originally open.
Shortly after 900, King Edward the Elder of Wessex took control of the Kingdom of Mercia. In order to defend it from the Danes, he ordered a series of fortified towns constructed and allocated land from which the defenders were to be drawn. 1200 men were to defend the ramparts of Warwick.
This wall probably follows the line of the original Anglo-Saxon defences.
The Guild Chapel of St. James was built on top of the West Gate in 1383. When the gate was extended outwards in 1450, a west tower was added to the chapel above.
The floor of the passage has been lowered at some point it seems. The half-columns in the higher part of the wall are Norman.
The lower part of the passage is cut through the rock.
Lord Leycester's Hospital... Originally dating back to the 1380's as the home of the Guild of St. George, the buildings were the home of the United Guilds until King Henry VIII abolished the guilds in 1546.
In 1571 Robert Dudley, Lord Leycester and favourite of Elizabeth I, aquired the buildings in order to provide accommodation for 12 retired soldiers.
View up the High Street from above the town gate. Warwick was sited on a noticeable hill as it was intended to be a fortress.
The East and South sides of the courtyard have remained virtually untouched since the 15th century. On the left is the Brethren's kitchen, in front the Guild Hall.
Inside the Guild Hall. Originally the private meeting place of the guilds, later part of the accommodation of the Brethren and their families until 1950 when the accommodation was modernised. The Guild Hall was built in 1450 by Neville "The Kingmaker" Earl of Warwick.
Equipment for a First World War cavalryman. This is a display in the small museum of the Queen's Own Hussars.
A fireplace dated 1571 in the Brethren's Kitchen. The cast iron range was made by Flavel in the 1850's.
Amy Robsart was the first wife of Robert Dudley. She died in mysterious circumstances and it was rumoured at the time that she had been murdered so that Robert was free to marry Queen Elizabeth.
The broad-headed arrow was a heraldic device of the Sidney family, who inherited Dudley's assets after his death. In the 17th century Henry Sidney was appointed Master General of the Ordnance and marked all the stores and equipment he was responsible for with a broad arrow, to inhibit pilfering. All military equipment is so marked to this day.
Looking towards the old Market Hall, which was built in 1670. The arches were originally open.
Anglo-Saxon sculpture in the Warwickshire Museum.
Anglo-Saxon jewellery in the Warwickshire Museum.
A hoard of Roman coins, silver denarii, found in Warwickshire, the oldest of which is nearly 2,200 years old.
The old Market Hall, now the Warwickshire Museum. The arched arcades were originally open.
Last edited:
