Located in the only
naturally defensive site relative to that area of the Thames basin, construction
of Windsor Castle was begun in 1070 by William the Conquer and was explicitly designed
with the intention of defending London from the western approaches. Despite its
initial purposes as a defensive holding, Windsor Castle was greatly esteemed by
William and other subsequent monarchs who would later renovate the Norman fortress
and refurnish it to better serve as a royal residence. The Official Windsor
Castle Guidebook elucidates on the monarchy’s affectionate attachments to
Windsor and reveals that “it has been the home of 39 monarchs and is the oldest
royal residence in the British Isles to have remained in continuous use.” (3)
As we have observed in
other prominent Renaissance sites and institutions such as the Tower of London
and Westminster Abbey, it was often the prerogative of the current monarch to expand
upon preexisting buildings as a reflection of their royal prestige and
authority. Windsor Castle was similarly renovated; however, the Guidebook
specifically refers to four monarchs who were primarily responsible for the Castle’s more
prominent attributes: William the Conquer, Edward III who greatly expanded the
fortress and contributed additions such as St. George’s Hall and the Royal
Apartments, Charles II, and George IV. (5) Our informative tour guides revealed
that throughout its history the legacy of Windsor Castle is largely a
reflection of these renovations and the multiplicity of various architectural designs
including Gothic, Baroque, Romantic, and Neo-Classicism. The shifting architectural
designs exhibited by the Castle, especially those perceived in Edward IV’s grandiose
St. George’s Chapel, reflect the monarch’s particular interest in the Castle
and the ensuing devotion they dedicated to ensuring it survived the ravages of
time and political contention. The Chapel itself constitutes one of the greatest examples of medieval architecture in Western Europe and due to Edward's dedication of the Chapel to Saint George, patron saint of England, the legacy of the Castle is substantiated by tradition and religious symbolic representation. St. George's Chapel remains a testament to the religious piety of Edward IV in addition to the religious progression England experienced throughout the 15th and 16th centuries..Additionally, much of the architectural
additions such as Saint George’s hall are superfluous in design yet reiterate
the pride in which Edward III valued Windsor as a royal residence. Inadvertently
the successful legacy of Windsor Castle is directly associated with the
monarchy’s infallible pride and desire to contribute their own lasting
influence upon the iconic fortress.
In addition to enlightening
us on the linear progression of the construction and diverse renovations conducted
on Windsor Palace, Kaitlyn and Gabby also informed us on various historical
accounts that may have potentially devastated the Castle’s integrity and legacy
as a symbolic representation of England and her monarchs. One such historical
account occurred in 1642 when Oliver Cromwell and parliamentary forces successfully
captured Windsor Castle following the Battle of Edgehill. Contrary to warfare traditions that warranted the sacking of captured fortresses, Cromwell’s forces were explicitly
ordered to maintain the integrity of the castle. Although some aspects of
Windsor were defiled and removed, the extent of Cromwell’s influence within the
castle is visibly limited despite him utilizing Windsor as a prison for
captured Loyalist. The castle furthermore reveals little evidence detailing the
execution of Charles I in 1648. Despite this particular demoralizing period in
the history of Windsor Castle, its reputation as the quintessential royal
residence remained uncompromised following the restoration of Charles II to the
English throne in 1660. To restore the image and legacy of Windsor Castle
following its function as Parliament’s headquarters, Charles II echoed the
actions of previous monarchs and renovated the upper ward into a Baroque Palace
effectively erasing the fortress’s soiled legacy and the effects of the English Civil War. (8-9)
In conclusion, a
stanza from a poem composed in 1703 reflecting the grandeur and national pride of Windsor Castle following the
ascension of Queen Anne to the English throne:
One
tow’ring Oak of huge Gigantick size,
That
did on Windsor’s shady forest rise,
Does,
by its Native Strength alone support,
The
ascending Ladder of this spacious court.
A
hundred Paces to the Floor you mount,
And
twice two Hundred afterwards may count.
The
Ceiling of stupendous Height does seem,
Shrewing
no Crack, or Flaw, or artless Beam.
But
in the noblest Paintings, there divine,
Does
all the glorious Acts of Europe shine.
Nor
are the wond’rous Deeds of William here forgot,
And
all the mighty Battles which he bravely Fought.
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