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- Sep 27, 2002
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This was a circular walk, starting and ending at the small car park on Castle Green, Kenilworth.
The Elizabethan Gatehouse, which was converted to a house after the civil war. Beyond it is the Norman Keep, with walls up to 20' thick.
The footpath starts at this kissing gate. In front is a 13th century tower and beyond that the Great Barn.
A nice example of medieval long drop plumbing! That tiny window must have shed just enough light on proceedings.
Kenilworth Castle was at one time mostly surrounded by extensive water defences which kept siege weapons out of range of the walls. The defenses kept king Henry III army at bay for 6 months during the great siege of 1266. Th low-lying land here once formed the lower pool. The causeway to the right formed the only way into the castle and was also a dam holding back the great Mere.
The curtain wall from the top of the causeway. The building beyond was built by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester to accommodate Queen Elizabeth I, who visited the castle several times. The entertainment was famously so lavish, Dudley was almost bankrupted.
Our route goes through this kissing gate and skirts the castle wall. The land beyond used to be the Mere.
Leaving the castle behind, we go up this lane then take to the fields through the kissing gate on the right.
Near the top of the hill is this old stone enclosure.
Eventually we get to this stile and turn onto Chase Lane.
You don't often see footpath signage as good as this! The Millennium way is a 100 mile route formed from footpaths all across the midlands.
The Elizabethan Gatehouse, which was converted to a house after the civil war. Beyond it is the Norman Keep, with walls up to 20' thick.
The footpath starts at this kissing gate. In front is a 13th century tower and beyond that the Great Barn.
A nice example of medieval long drop plumbing! That tiny window must have shed just enough light on proceedings.
Kenilworth Castle was at one time mostly surrounded by extensive water defences which kept siege weapons out of range of the walls. The defenses kept king Henry III army at bay for 6 months during the great siege of 1266. Th low-lying land here once formed the lower pool. The causeway to the right formed the only way into the castle and was also a dam holding back the great Mere.
The curtain wall from the top of the causeway. The building beyond was built by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester to accommodate Queen Elizabeth I, who visited the castle several times. The entertainment was famously so lavish, Dudley was almost bankrupted.
Our route goes through this kissing gate and skirts the castle wall. The land beyond used to be the Mere.
Leaving the castle behind, we go up this lane then take to the fields through the kissing gate on the right.
Near the top of the hill is this old stone enclosure.
Eventually we get to this stile and turn onto Chase Lane.
You don't often see footpath signage as good as this! The Millennium way is a 100 mile route formed from footpaths all across the midlands.
...I guess that's where it got it's name.
