The Chapel At Warwick Castle

The Chapel At Warwick Castle

The chapel of Warwick Castle, built around 1600, has been restored and opened for Divine worship. It was built in the reign of Henry VI., and is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. Beneath the chapel are the rooms built for the residence of the priests. The giant statue of Earl Guy is still in the chapel, but is much mutilated; the right arm is gone, and the hand of the left arm that holds a shield. The statue is eight feet high. Warwick Castle played an important role in the English Civil War, which had religious origins. Oliver Cromwell may well have sought guidance at this altar. 

A Stately Home For Ghosts

A Stately Home For Ghosts

Cowdrey House: With a history dating back to the early 1500s, Cowdray was in its heyday during the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, both of whom visited and stayed at the house, with Henry VIII being a frequent visitor. Nearly three hundred years later and whilst undergoing repairs and refurbishments for the impending marriage of the 8th Viscount Montague, a devastating fire took hold on the evening of the 24th September 1793. The house was destroyed to a great extent – but with significant exceptions such as the intact Kitchen Tower.

For the next century this exquisite example of Tudor architecture simply rotted away and its gradually decaying structure was visited by numerous artists, scholars and writers alike including William Turner and John Constable who both painted the landscape.

Since then it has remained largely untouched although the 1st Viscount Cowdray did commission a restoration project between 1909-1914 when St John Hope was asked to report on Cowdray, Easebourne Priory and St Anne’s Hill. This work is generally credited with having saved the Cowdray ruins from total collapse. Nevertheless this period of desertion ensured that the features that remained of this important Tudor building were untouched and consequently give us today a unique glimpse of many important features of Tudor architecture which would otherwise have been lost.

The Castle Ruins at Bramber in the Style of Van Gogh

The Castle Ruins at Bramber in the Style of Van Gogh

The only part of the original Norman castle wall which still stands upon a huge natural mound is a 76ft high fragment of what was once a mighty fortress. Perched in this position, the castle was perfect for defending nearby old Shoreham which was situated on the river Adur. The name Bramber comes from the Saxon 'Brymmburh which means fortified place.

Bramber Castle was, in the reign of King John, owned by William de Braose whose opulent lifestyle made him the envy of his monarch but he was to incurr the King's displeasure in the events leading up to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 AD.

The King decided to make an example of Braose and ordered that he give up his four young children to be hostages of the King insuring their father's future good behavior. When this unreasonable demand was refused, King John sent an army to Bramber with instructions to take the children by force.

Braose learned of the plan and together with his family fled to Ireland but they were later captured, returned to England and imprisoned at Windsor Castle where the spiteful King had the four children starved to death as a warning to other disobedient barons.

Although they died at Windsor Castle, it is to the sad ruin of Bramber Castle that the specters of the murdered children are said to return particularly at Christmas when they are apparently sometimes seen begging for food.