WINDSOR CASTLE. Originally, doubtless a fortress of the Romans: according to some historians it was newly built by Henry I, together with a chapel, where, in 1122, he celebrated his marriage with his second Queen Adelais of Lorrain. A parliament was held in the fortress under Henry II, in 1170, at which William the Lion, King of Scotland, and his brother David, attended as feudal barons of the realm. Great additions were made to the fortifications by Henry III In the sixth year of Edward I a grand tournament was held in the adjoining park; this monarch, with his son, continually resided in the castle, which became the birthplace of several of their children; among whom the most celebrated was King Edward III— hence called by historians Edward of Windsor. This monarch showed his regard for the place of his nativity by the improvements he made in both the town and castle; but especially with the latter, which, with the exception of three towers at the west end of the lower ward (see Thames-street) he caused to be rebuilt. These vast improvements were superintended by William of* Wykeham, (afterwards the Bishop of Winchester) who in 1359 was appointed keeper of the manors of Old and New Windsor. About 1373 the buildings were completed, comprising the King's Palace, the great hall of St. George, the lodgings on the east and south sides of the Upper Ward, the Round Tower, the Chapel of St. George, the Canons' houses in the Lower Ward, and the whole circumference of the walls, with the towers and gates. *Visitors may see cut out in a stone of the Winchester Tower these words "Hoc fecit Wykeham." The king on seeing the words was exceedingly wroth against Wykeham, and but for his dexterity the affair would have gone seriously with the architect. Being summoned into the king's presence, the king demanded his explanation, when Wykeham told the king he read the inscription wrongly; it was not "that Wykeham made the tower, but that the tower made Wykeham, whereat the king's wroth was appeased. In the reign of Edward III, King John of France and King David of Scotland were prisoners together in the castle. Henry VII made various alterations, and by order of Queen Elizabeth the terrace walk on the north side of the castle was constructed. During the civil war between Charles I and the parliament, Windsor Castle was garrisoned by the troops of the latter, and Colonel Venn, subsequently one of the judges of the High Court of Justice, was appointed governor. Prince Rupert made an ineffectual attack on the castle in the autumn of 1642, but it remained in possession of the parliament during the war, and in 1648 it became the prison of that unfortunate monarch. Charles II, on his restoration, finding the castle had suffered much from violence and neglect, caused it to be well repaired and richly furnished, making it his summer residence. In the spring of 1824 a parliamentary grant of £300,000 was voted for the general improvements of the castle, and the execution of the undertaking was entrusted to Sir Geofrey Wyatville.-Subsequent grants have raised the sum appropriated for the buildings alone to £771,000. The Castle consists of two courts or wards, between which is the keep or round tower; the whole occupying about 12 acres of ground, and having batteries and bastions for self defence. The upper ward consists of a spacious quadrangle, bounded on the west by the round tower; on the north, by the royal apartments, St. George's hall and the chapel, and on the east and south by the chambers appropriated for the officers of state. Windsor Castle has been the favourite residence of King George III, King George IV (who greatly enriched it), William IV, and our beloved Queen, who makes it her usual winter residence. THE STATE APARTMENTS. The State Apartments are open gratuitously to the public on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, when Her Majesty is not in Residence. Tickets may be procured, by order of the Lord Chamberlain, at Messrs. Taylor & Son's, Booksellers to Her Majesty and the Royal Family. Visitors are required to apply personally, giving their names and addresses and the number of their party, which are duly entered in a book kept for the purpose. The rooms are open for admission from 11 to 4 during the summer months, and from 11 to 3 during the winter months:-these tickets are only available for the day on which they are issued. The Royal Windsor Guides may be obtained where the Tickets are issued, varying from 1d. to 2s. 6d each. Also separate Guides to St. George's Chapel and Virginia Water from 1d. to 6d. We will now proceed briefly to describe the State Apartments in the order in which they are shown to the public, premising that the entrance is under the Gothic Porch, near the Round Tower : THE QUEEN'S AUDIENCE CHAMBER.-On the ceiling is an allegorical painting by Antonio Verrio, representing Queen Catherine as Britannia, in a triumphal car, drawn by Swans, accompanied by Pomona, Ceres, Flora, and other heathen goddesses, proceeding towards the Temple of Virtue. The walls of three sides of the room are hung with gobelin tapestry, illustrating three events in the life of Esther, viz: 1. Esther confided to the care of Hagai. 3. The Crowning of Esther by Ahasuerus. There are but few paintings in this apartment; two (whole length portraits of the father and grandfather of William III), by Honthorst. 4, A whole length and highly interesting portrait of 5, Frederick Henry Prince of Orange, by Honthorst The frames are elaborately carved by Gibbons. THE OLD BALL ROOM, OR "VANDYCK ROOM.”—The whole of the paintings (twenty-two in number) are the productions of Vandyck. They are splendid specimens of the taste and talent of this well-known master, and are portraits of the following royal and distinguished personages. 1, Henry Comte de Bergh 2, Charles I; Queen Henrietta; Prince Charles 3, Mary Duchess of Richmond 4, Thomas Killigrew and Thomas Carew 5, Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I 6, Lady Venetia Digby 7, George Villiers and Lord Francis Villiers 9, Henrietta Maria 10, Beatrix de Cusance Princesse de Cantecroy 12, Charles I 13, Henrietta Maria 14, Lucy Countess of Carlisle 15, Sir Kenelm Digby 16, Prince Charles, afterwards Charles II 17, The Artist's own Portrait 18, Henrietta Maria 19, Three children of Charles I, viz:-Prince 20, Mary Countess of Dorset 21, Charles I on horseback 22, A portrait of a gentlemen unknown The equestrian portrait of Charles I is a magnificent production: the head of the king had evidently been removed and afterwards replaced. It is supposed that when the king's collection of paintings "was announced for sale, some zealous lover of royalty adopted that mode of preserving the head of his Majesty from desecration, and replaced it after the restoration." The ceiling is composed of gilded panelings, and is ornamented with the rose, the shamrock, and thistle, the royal arms, the initials of George the III, palm branches, &c. Upon the crimson silk damask hangings are displayed the insignia of the Orders of the Garter, Bath, St. Patrick, and the Thistle. THE QUEEN'S STATE DRAWING-ROOM, OR "ZUCCARELLI ROOM."-There are fourteen paintings in this apartment, nine of which are by Zuccarelli, and are as follow:1, The Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca 2, The Finding of Moses (Painted expressly for George III, the artist being left to the choice of his subject.) 3 to 9, Seven large Landscapes, One of which represents Jacob tending the flocks of Laban. 10, Portraits of Henry Duke of Gloucester, when a child, the youngest son of Charles I 11, George I, by Fountaine 12, George II 13, George III 14, Frederick Prince of Wales. In the centre of the ceiling, which is of stucco, is an octagon panel of large dimensions, encircled with the rose, shamrock, thistle, and oak leaves. In richly emblazoned shields are the royal arms, and the arms of Saxe Meiningen, surmounted with the imperial crown: the initials "W. R." and "A. R." are also borne on other shields at the end of the room. The rich silk damask hangings are ornamented with the arms of William IV and Queen Adelaide. |
