Warwick Castle Facts & Worksheets

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Warwick Castle is a medieval castle built in 1068 by William the Conqueror. Aside from the varied history played out inside this fortress, the court was built near the banks of the River Avon to protect the Midlands against rebellion.

See the fact file below for more information on Warwick Castle or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Warwick Castle worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DESCRIPTION

• During the medieval period (5th century – 15th century CE), castles were built as residences for the nobility who were usually members of the royal class, such as kings and lords. They were a defensive structure to protect the occupants from invasion.
• Like other medieval castles, Warwick Castle was built to protect its royal residents and to maintain control of the surrounding lands.
• Throughout its history, the castle had several owners, and underwent renovations, and experienced other historical events.

BEFORE CONSTRUCTION

• 914. On the site where Warwick Castle would eventually be built, an Anglo-Saxon ‘bruh’ – an Old English fortification – was established by Æthelflæd, the daughter of King Alfred the Great. The purpose of building the fort was to defend the area from the Danish armies during their invasion of England.

THE HISTORY

• 1068. By the orders of William the Conqueror, the construction of the castle began as a motte-and-bailey castle – a fortification built from wood and stone materials that included a walled courtyard.
• 1260. As the construction of the castle progressed in its, the wooden materials were replaced with stones.
• 1264. During the Second Barons’ War, the castle was successfully attacked by Simon de Montfort and leaders of a number of rebellious barons. This was done with the help of trebuchets, a type of siege machine.
• 1330–60. The defenses on the northeastern side of the castle were enhanced by adding a gatehouse, a barbican (a form of fortified outpost), and two towers, namely: Caesar’s Tower and Guy’s Tower.
  • It is believed that prisoners from the 1356 Battle of Poitiers were imprisoned in the dungeons beneath Caesar’s Tower, which is why it is also known as Poitiers Tower.
• The 1480s. King Richard III of England planned on building two gun towers namely: The Bear and Clarence Towers. Both towers were left unfinished upon his death in 1485 and stood as independent strongholds from the rest of the castle.
• 1478–1547. During these years, the castle was in the care of the Crown and underwent renovations using stone. Rooms were improved, built, and extended. 
  • But despite renovations, due to the age and neglect, the castle had fallen into decay.
• 1566 and 1572. During her tour of the country, Queen Elizabeth I decided to visit the castle in 1566 and 1572. A building made from wood was built in the castle for her stay.
• 1604. The ruinous castle was given to Sir Fulke Greville by King James I and turned into a country house. Years later, the castle went through renovations, costing over 20 thousand pounds in the process.
• 1628. Watergate Tower became known as Ghost Tower due to supposed hauntings by Fulke Greville after he was murdered by his manservant in Holborn.
• 1642. During the First English Civil War (1642–1646), the defenses of the castle were reinforced in preparation for an attack. 
• These defenses were able to withstand a Royalist siege. The prisoners were held in Caesar’s and Guy’s Towers after the Battle of Edgehill.
• 1651. Prisoners were held at the castle during the Second English Civil War and the Battle of Worcester.
• 1695. The castle, now in a habitable state, was visited by King William III.
• 1643–1658. During Francis Greville’s ownership of the castle, he renewed programs to improve the grounds and the castle.
• 1747. Francis Greville commissioned Antonio Canaletto, an Italian artist, to paint the castle. There are five known oil paintings and three drawings of the castle.
• 1747–1788. Several restorations and extensions, as well as interior alterations, were made to the castle. This included rebuilding the Great Hall, extra rooms, a new Dining Room, greenhouse, and conservatory.
• 1871. The castle was heavily damaged by fire.
• 1978 to the present. Warwick Castle was sold to Merlin Entertainment and opened to the public. Restoration works by Merlin Entertainments (a merger of Blackstone Group and the Tussauds Group with other holdings) were also conducted.

Owners of Warwick Castle

A TOURIST ATTRACTION

• Before it became a tourist attraction, Warwick Castle has been visited by several individuals since the end of the 17th century.
• When the castle was sold to the Tussauds Group, it was opened as a tourist attraction.
• In 2007, the Tussauds Group was purchased by the Blackstone Group and then merged with Merlin Entertainments. Currently, Merlin continues operating on the site under a renewable 35-year lease.
• Special events at the castle include seasonal events such as Summer, Halloween, and Christmas.
• Attractions are available to bring a historical experience to visitors. These include interactive activities for learning the history of the castle and a walk-through of the interior rooms, towers, and the Great Hall.
• Audiences watch live shows packed with action and excitement. These include a stage production, a “Birds of Prey” show, an archery demonstration, and a jousting show.
• The Trebuchet, one of the largest working siege machines in the world, measuring 59 feet (18 meters) in height is one of the attractions at Warwick Castle.
• Warwick Castle has events to encourage students to learn the history of one of Europe’s well-known centuries-old castles. These workshops have learning objectives that need to be met after each program.
• There are seven workshops available at the castle, namely: “Stories with a Princess”, “Sword Skills with a Knight,” “Votes For Women,” “Medieval Battle Skills,” “Victorian Warwick,” “Medieval Warwick,” and the “Execution of a Queen.”
• There are twelve tours at the castle, namely: “Castle Life,” “Meet the Monarchy,” “Ultimate Castle,” “Norman Conquest,” “The Kingmaker,” “Wars of the Roses,” “Viking Invaders,” “History of Medicine,” “Evolution of Warfare,” “Ultimate Kids Tour,” “Crime and Punishment,” and “Attack & Defence.”
• Similar to workshops, tours are offered to provide learning experiences for students visiting the castle.
• Free shows are available, such as “The Bowman Show,” “The Mighty Trebuchet,” “The Falconer’s Quest,” and “Wars of the Roses.”
• As an extra part of the journey, students can order and purchase a wooden shield they can customize with paint.
• Snacks and souvenirs are also available for purchase inside Warwick Castle.
• As a nationally significant historic building, Warwick Castle is considered a Scheduled Ancient Monument, protected against unauthorized changes to the building itself.
• Warwick Castle is categorized as a Grade I building because of its exceptional interest.
• Other places that are classified as Grade I buildings along with Warwick Castle around England and Wales are the Birmingham Town Hall, Palace of Westminster, Windsor Castle, and Liverpool Cathedral.

Warwick Castle Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Warwick Castle across 27in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Warwick Castle which was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• Warwick Castle Facts
• Towers of Reflection
• Agents of Shield
• Dungeons & Dangers
• Secrets of the Walls
• Warwick’s Map-O-Matic
• Warwickian Big Brother
• The Castle’s Gambit
• Victoria’s Tasks
• The Princess Diary
• Museo De Warwick

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Warwick Castle famous?

Castles in the medieval period not only functioned as homes to the royal class, but they were also designed to protect their occupants from invasion. The Warwick Castle was no different. It was built to protect its residents as well as maintain control of the surrounding lands.

Who built Warwick Castle?

In the year 914, Æthelflæd, the daughter of King Alfred the Great, built a fort on the site Warwick Castle would eventually stand. Construction of the castle officially began with the orders of William the Conqueror. Its fortifications including a walled courtyard were built from wood and stone.

How long did it take to build Warwick Castle?

Construction of Warwick Castle from the time of William the Conqueror until it was owned by the Beauchamps who had completed most of the structures we see today took approximately 180 years. And because it has weathered many battles and wars, renovations and reconstructions continue to this day.

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Link will appear as Warwick Castle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 7, 2022