Berkshire History for Kids: Windsor (original) (raw)

• Windsor's full name is 'New Windsor'. There had been a Roman temple on St. Leonard's Hill (where Legoland is). However, in Saxon times, there was nothing at Windsor. Nearby Old Windsor was just called 'Windsor' in those days.
• Windsor means 'Winch on the Shore'. This would have been on the bank of the River Thames. It was like a crane for unloading boats.
• The Saxon Kings had a big palace at Old Windsor. King Edward the Confessor often stayed there.
• In Norman times, King William the Conqueror took over England. He built a castle at Windsor to control the local people. They didn't like him very much.
• Windsor Castle was a favourite home of the Kings of England. They liked to hunt in the Forest and the Great Park.
• A trading town soon built up at the entrance to the castle. In Medieval times, the castle was put under siege several times and the town was filled with soldiers.
• The County Gaol was in the town, but all the prisoners escaped. The soldiers from the castle had a battle with them in the parish churchyard.
• During the Tudor Reformation of the Church, Windsor became poplar with Protestants. King Henry VIII was still a Catholic at heart. He had them burnt alive! But then changed his mind.
• The famous playwright, William Shakespeare, stayed at the (Hart &) Garter Inn in Windsor in 1597. He wrote 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' there for Queen Elizabeth I.
• In Stuart times, Sir Christopher Wren built the Guild Hall in Windsor. He was a very clever architect who also built St. Paul's Cathedral in London. His father was the Dean at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.