Warwick

 

Warwick is famous for its castle, founded by William the Conqueror in 1068. The town has a magical quality because it was largely unaffected by the industrial revolution.

He had important places to be.

Warwick Castle overlooks the River Avon and served as a strategic hold in the British midlands.

These days Warwick Castle is owned by a theme park company, which has done a pretty good job maintaining it.

Horrible Histories is still a popular series!

The Castle has many high quality historic exhibits, probably installed when the Tussauds Group owned it.

Nock! Loose! A seven year old soldier drills to shoot 12 arrows a minute.

The bear and ragged staff is the heraldry of the Earls of Warwick.

The castle has changed hands many times, and was home to Richard Neville, the Kingmaker during the War of the Roses.

Oliver Cromwell's death mask

Sumptuous

A narwhal horn, once thought to be a unicorn horn

Woe be to he who angers the Duncow!

The castle served as a country house for the Earls of Warwick from the 17th century until 1978, when it was sold to the Tussauds Group.

Even the fire hoses in the castle are classy.

Unfortunately the trebuchet has been out of operation for a while.

The last siege the castle withstood was in 1642.

In the 1900s the Earl of Warwick opened a ticket office charging tourists to visit the castle.

The trebuchet once flung a 30 pound rock 250 meters.

The Collegiate Church of St. Mary is also worth a visit.

The crypt

A medieval ducking stool

Thomas and Katherine Beauchamp, Earl and Countess of Warwick in the 14th century

The church was originally founded in 1123.

Richard Beauchamp's tomb

The ragged staff in the heraldic emblem represents a tree used to kill a giant.

Griffons!

The bear may represent Norman Urse d'Abetot, father in law to the Beauchamps.

Not a bad emblem for a medieval earl.

The swan crown is legit too.

Shelves used to distribute food to the poor at church.