Warwick castle was unreal. Warwick is a smaller village community near Stratford Upon Avon, but wow they know how to entertain tourists. I was excited to go to the castle because I'd never been to a one before, but I didn't have the highest expectations. I thought it would be a neat experience, but more of a cheap thrill. The castle exceeded my expectations. It did have some wonderful thrills; I was terrified during the castle dungeon tour, but the state rooms and great halls were unbelievably gorgeous and well restored, the wax figures were actually awesome, and the history, well that's always my favorite part.
During the castle dungeon tour, live guides popped out at us, which I was fully expecting. However, they also presented the "horrible history" of the castle in a fun, entertaining and spooky way. The dungeon "cook" spoke about the effects the bubonic plague have on the human body, the first symptoms are the appearance of buboes, which are sores that surface on the neck, thighs, face, and genitals. He then very gruesomely ripped open a mankind to expose the major organs as he tore them out he explained that the plague rotted your insides first. He grabbed the bladder exclaimed it was still full, and squirted us all with water. What an awesome job, get dressed up all scary, terrify tourists, talk about the plague and squirt people with water. Other guides talked about different types of torture, beheading, and I was put on trial for witchcraft. Yes it made my day, I loved how magical and interactive they made it. I totally pleaded guilty and was sentenced to be burnt at the stake. How cool is that?
I then toured the classy Great Hall and State Rooms of the castle, which were all decorated and restored to what they would have looked like centuries ago, complete with wax figures and everything. First they explained the story of my personal favorite Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville, "The Kingmaker." He succeeded in taking the throne from the mentally unstable Henry VI and gave it to young Edward IV, the Yorkist claimant. And the War of the Roses continued with the Yorkist, and Lancasterian feuds (both of their father's began the war trying to push the incompetent Henry off his throne but were both killed in battle). Warwick was very much the voice behind King Edward until he married the common, but beautiful Elizabeth Woodsville against Warwick's wishes, so he turned against his best friend, the King, and plotted to put Edward's own brother George Duke of Clarence on the throne, when that failed he resorted back to supporting the old,crazy king Henry again. He failed at both attempts and was killed in battle against Edward IV (because Edward never lost). Although, Edward did go on to die of a common cold, and his two sons are the princes in the tower that I mentioned before. Both who disappeared conveniently so Edward's other brother Richard (evil Richard III) could take the throne for himself. Treacherous guys. This was a huge tangent, I apologize. Moral of the story, you can't even trust your closest friends or family, when it comes to the throne of England. Anyway, my point is that I got to waltz right into the mighty Warwick's great hall, but it was very intimidating all covered with medieval armor. The castle dates back to William I "the conqueror," after his defeat of the Saxons the castle was a fortification to protect England (originally built in 1068).
One of my favorite little details about the castle that I had no idea about before I went there was that Queen Elizabeth I stayed there for a lavish visit in 1572. Why you ask? Her favorite at court, and Master of the Horse, Sir Robert Dudley, invited her there. Many suspect the couple went to the castle in order to have a romantic weekend to themselves as they were rumoured to have the most salacious affair. Anyway, the connection to Warwick is that Robert's brother Ambrose Dudley was Earl of Warwick at the time. I also went to St Mary's church in Warwick and visited the graves of Robert Dudley, his later wife Lettice Knollys, and their only son little Robert. Of course the Dudley and Elizabeth relationship doesn't work out because Robert's first wife, Amy, "accidentally falls down the stairs" and breaks her neck. This ruins Robert's reputation and almost Elizabeth's. That darn throne of England always destroying happiness. As you know the "virgin" Queen has an extremely successful rule but refuses to marry, and on her deathbed it is Robert's letter she holds dearly to her heart. (if you liked this bit of rambling the Virgin's Lover is a fantastic read).
The Cedar Drawing Room was probably the nicest sitting room I've ever been in. It is the largest and more elaborate of the drawing rooms in the castle. The reason it is called a drawing room is because 'drawing' is contraction of 'withdrawing,' which is what people did in these rooms after the great meal, to chill out and play cards or chess. You know before there were various less social distractions like TV, computers, or video games..how fascinating I know! The Green Drawing room was equally awesome because it contained all the wax figures of Henry VIII and his six wives, so naturally I took lots of pictures of myself with them.
Finally, the last room I feel compelled to talk about is the exquisite State Bed Room, that was personally designed for Queen Anne's visit in 1704. Unfortunately,even though they shipped over her huge four poster bed, she didn't show. At the time she had a massive falling out with a prominent lady from the English court, Duchess Sarah de Marble who was also staying at the castle. However, the bed remained at Warwick castle and was given as a gift to the Earl of Warwick by George VI. Let's not be too hard on Queen Anne she had quite a difficult life. Sixteen of her seventeen children died in child birth or infancy, and the soul survivor, he beloved son died at age twelve. Anne herself died young, they say of a broken heart, which ended the Stuart dynasty. The Stuart's were not lucky people.
I cannot leave out one of the castle's most delightful exhibitions. It's called the Royal Weekend Party, and the setting was incredible and quite opposite of the dungeon. As you walked in a maid announced your name and where you were from, but in a royal, old fashion manner. When I entered she yelled "Lady Carissa from Ontario Canada has arrived." There were again, many wax figures, and decorated rooms that were modeled to represent the castle in the 19th century when the Countess of Warwick, Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville use to throw her elaborate, lavish parities. It was her husband Francis Greville, who transformed the castle into a eloquent country mansion. The Countess had the most fascinating lifestyle. Many have said that she was the first women to be known internationally for her beauty. She also had several affairs, most famously, one with King Edward VII. Interestingly, this was not uncommon for Victorian women of a prominent status, as long as it was behind closed doors. The whole thing was fabulous presented, and I had no idea how scandalous and intriguing it would be.
On top of all this knowledge I had to store in my little brain, I climbed the 530 stairs of the castle towers. After that I didn't feel so guilty about the greasy fish and chips I had for lunch. The view was breathtaking, as it always is. If things couldn't get any better on my way out I spotted a Ben and Jerry's ice cream vending machine; it made my day.
C
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