Kenilworth Castle :: Shared Description

Kenilworth Castle is one of Britain’s largest and most impressive historic sites. It began as a mediaeval fortress and became an Elizabethan Palace.

Geoffrey de Clinton began the massive Norman keep at the core of the fortress in the 1120s, and under Henry II Kenilworth became a royal castle. King John greatly strengthened it between 1210 and 1215, enlarging the surrounding watery 'mere' which effectively made it an island stronghold. Thus it could withstand an epic siege in 1266, when rebellious barons held out against Henry III's siege engines for six months, succumbing only to starvation.

During the late 14th century John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, rebuilt the splendid great hall and staterooms of Kenilworth's inner court, beginning the castle's transition into a palace and favourite residence of the Lancastrian and early Tudor kings.

However, the castle is probably best known as the home of Robert Dudley, the great love of Queen Elizabeth I. Dudley, Earl of Leicester, took possession of the castle in 1563. He then lavished fortunes on converting it into a great Renaissance 'prodigy house', designed to receive the queen and her close servants on her visits to Kenilworth in 1572 and 1575 during their ceremonial 'progresses' around her realm.

LinkExternal link - History of Kenilworth Castle (English Heritage)
by David Dixon
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45 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

SP2772 : View from Kenilworth Castle by David Dixon
SP2772 : The Great Tower, Kenilworth by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Kenilworth Castle by PAUL FARMER
SP2772 : The Mortimer Tower, Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Panoramic view west from Kenilworth Castle by David P Howard
SP2772 : View through an archway at Kenilworth Castle by Graham Hogg
SP2772 : Leicester's Building, Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Kenilworth Castle by David P Howard
SP2772 : Kenilworth Castle, The Elizabethan Garden by David Dixon
SP2772 : The Keep, Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Leicester's Gatehouse by Graham Hogg
SP2772 : The Elizabethan Garden and Great Tower by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Kenilworth Castle panorama by Graham Hogg
SP2772 : The Elizabethan Garden, Kenilworth Castle by David Dixon
SP2772 : Leicester's Building, Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Kenilworth Castle by David P Howard
SP2772 : Kenilworth Castle Keep by David Dixon
SP2772 : Leicester's Gatehouse, Kenilworth Castle by Chris Allen
SP2772 : Leicester's Building and the Great Tower by Philip Halling
SP2772 : Saintlowe Tower in Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling
SP2772 : The Elizabethan Garden, Kenilworth Castle by David Dixon
SP2772 : The Elizabethan Gardens, Kenilworth Castle by David Dixon
SP2772 : Great Hall View by Gordon Griffiths
SP2772 : Leicester's Gatehouse in Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling
SP2772 : The Great Hall, Kenilworth Castle by Philip Halling

... and 20 more images.

These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images. For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Created: Thu, 11 Aug 2011, Updated: Thu, 11 Aug 2011

The 'Shared Description' text on this page is Copyright 2011 David Dixon, however it is specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse it on their own images without restriction.

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