William the Conqueror built Windsor Castle in the year 1070 high above the river Thames in the country of Berkshire in England.About 13 acres (5 hectares) of the ground is occupied by Windsor castle. The area above the river Thames is in close proximity to the forests for hunting and to London.The castle was built at first using wood, and later in 1170, Henry II rebuilt it using stones. Windsor Castle is the most magnificent castle that has housed over 39 British monarchs for over 1,000 years. In the mid 17th century, the castle also served as a prison and faced plenty of historical wars. It is one of the most regal and renowned castles in England that was once the social center of politics for the nobles. The making of the castle holds quite a fascinating history and has undergone several changes brought about by the descendants of William. The grandson of William, King Henry II transformed the palace by building two sets of private apartments in the castle. One was built for himself and the other was built as a state official residence. The royal family cherished the castle for years and domestic quarters were built as well. In the 14th century, the castle got a major uplifting during the reign of King Edward III, who introduced the Order of the Garter. The palace was spectacularly built in a gothic style that was perfect for the modern day. He then took up residence in the castle and built private apartments for the King and Queen. The grand kitchen was also built, which accommodated the grand events conducted by him. Thus, the palace was used both for business and private matters. The work of King Edward III was completed six years after his death, by his grandson Richard II. Further modernization of the royal residence was done by Edward IV, the great grandson of Edward III. The palace was captured during the English Civil War and it was made the political headquarters in the mid 17th century. Several British royalists were held prisoners, including King Charles I during the Civil War. Later it was reclaimed by Charles II, who once again brought back the majestic grandeur of the castle interiors. It was thoroughly designed by the world’s finest tapestries and textiles. He also commissioned the two and a half mile driveway of the Long Walk, which showcases the glamourous lifestyle of the Royals.If you enjoyed reading this article, then do check out when was the titanic built and when was the zipper invented, here on Kidadl.When was Windsor Castle built and by whom?William the Conqueror built Windsor Castle in the year 1070. It was further modified by his descendants and is now the most magnificent castle in the world.The spectacular Windsor Castle was built by William above the river Thames with a nearby hunting spot. It took near about 16 years to complete the construction. The main motive behind this huge construction was to secure the western approach to London. It served as the perfect location for the British monarchs who could easily reach the capital and even go out on a hunting spree. The round tower that sits on top of the motte is considered the oldest part of the castle. Much later in the year 1110, Henry I built the private apartments and Henry II rebuilt the royal residence with all the intricate designs. A grand private chapel was built in the lower ward, which was commissioned by Henry III. He further improvised the designs of the private and state apartments in both the upper ward and lower ward. The lower ward was also surrounded by huge stone walls during this time. Edward III, in the year 1377, transformed the palace by adding a gothic style. He began the reconstruction of the upper ward of the castle under the guidance of the Bishop of Winchester. The gatehouse was built with perpendicular gothic towers, and separate rooms were built for the King and the Queen. The Order of the Garter, which was described as the most chivalrous knighthood, was founded by Edward III around this time. After his death, the modernization was continued by his grandson Richard II for another six years. Edward IV then carried on with the modernization of the castle and began constructing the St George’s Chapel. After the Westminster Abbey, St George’s Chapel is considered the second most important royal mausoleum. The remains of 10 incredible British monarchs were buried in this royal mausoleum. Upon visiting, one can come across the Lady Chapel where several important personalities lay buried, including Henry VIII, Charles II, Edward VII, George IV, and George V.Much later in the 15th century, Henry VII built the narrow range on the western part of the state apartments. The upper ward was once again restructured by Henry VIII with timber. The Royal Library was built by Elizabeth I along with a long gallery that overlooked the northern terrace. King George III further designed the royal residence in the 18th century and added the dining room and music room in the upper ward. George IV in 1820 increased the height of the round tower and redesigned the exterior by building more towers. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the Waterloo Chamber was built which marked the defeat of Napoleon. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria spent many happy years of their marriage in this royal castle.When was the darkroom built in Windsor Castle?Many changes took place during the reign of Queen Victoria. She took a deep interest in the remodeling of Windsor Castle.A darkroom was built in this Castle during her reign in the year 1854. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria built this darkroom in the castle due to their keen interest in photography. All the light-sensitive photographic films were printed and processed in this room. The largest room in this entire castle was St George’s Chapel, which is the chosen burial ground of many British monarchs. The royal family of Queen Victoria cherished this castle and the most remarkable built of her reign was the private chapel. The total land area covered by this castle is about 13 acres (5 hectares), which increases to a massive 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) if the Windsor Great Park and the Home Park are included. Unfortunately, much of the royal collection were destroyed due to a sudden fire that took place in the year 1992. The fire lasted for about 15 hours and caused immense damage to the upper ward of the castle. The ceilings of St George’s Hall caught the fire along with the Grand Reception Room. Most of the royal paintings were also damaged, but fortunately, the Royal Library was saved. The most damaged part, that is the St George’s Hall was reconstructed with a gothic style, the trend set by George IV. Other areas were restored to the condition left by Geroge IV. The entire restoration work was completed after five years of the fire outbreak. The Duke of Edinburgh engaged a restoration team and carried out this project, and funds were gathered from the Royal Collection Trust.Is Windsor Castle bigger than Buckingham Palace?Windsor Castle is the largest and the oldest castle in the world and covers more land area than Buckingham Palace.There are about 775 rooms present in Buckingham Palace, while Windsor Castle comprises more than 1,000 rooms and 78 bathrooms. Buckingham Palace, as you might be aware, is the official residence of the Queen, whereas Windsor Castle served as a vacation spot for Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II now resides in the castle, Windsor. Common people can not stay inside the castle but can visit for two to three hours upon permission. The Royal Court resides here from the months of April to June. The Windsor possesses a huge art collection from renowned artists. A large number of guards and other people residing in Windsor, makes it look like a fortified village with an overwhelming size.Has Windsor Castle been attacked?Windsor Castle was attacked several times in the past. Each time it defended itself from the attack of the intruders, owing to its strong built and large concrete walls.During the Baron’s war in the year 1215, Windsor Castle was continuously attacked for about two months or even more. Again the Windsor was attacked in the 1400s when King Henry IV removed Richard II from the royal office. Every time, the castle survived the attacks due to its strength. In the earlier days, boiling water, stones, and arrows were thrown from the round tower of this castle to ward off the intruders. Even now, there is a tight military presence in the round tower, who keeps a watch all throughout the day and night to ensure the safety of the royal family.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for when was Windsor Castle built? amazing royal castle facts unveiled! then why not take a look at where do pine nuts come from? amazing food facts about pine seeds, or where does caviar come from? remarkable facts on luxury fish food?
William the Conqueror built Windsor Castle in the year 1070 high above the river Thames in the country of Berkshire in England.
