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Windsor castle is a historic medieval castle situated in Berkshire. It is well known for being the ancestral home of the British royal family as well as its stunning architecture. The castle was originally built by William the Conqueror and has been used as by a long line of monarchs since then. It is known to be the longest occupied palace in Europe. The castle is home to the stunning 15th century St George’s Chapel. It was originally designed to enshrine Norman control in the region and was a strategically important location due to its proximity to the River Thames. It was originally built as a motte and bailey but was gradually replaced with stone fortifications. These fortifications helped the castle to survive a siege during the First Barons War in the 13th century. The castle was subject to many redesigns and rebuildings. During the 13th century Henry III built a huge and luxurious palace inside the castle grounds and Edward III carried this redesign on spending what was at the time a huge amount of money on the project. From here Henry VIII and Elizabeth I made yet further modifications as they used as the location of the royal court. Windsor castle managed to get through the English Civil War relatively unscathed and was used by the parliamentary forces as a headquarters and the prison of Charles I. Following the end of the English Civil war Charles II rebuilt a large part of Windsor Castle with the aid of the architect Hugh May and it is this iteration of the castles design which can be still be seen today. The castle is broken up into three wards: the upper, middle and lower. The upper ward houses the state apartments constructed by George III and George IV as well as the Edward III tower and the round tower. The middle ward is the centre of the castle and contains the bailey from which the castle originally sprung. The bailey is 50ft high and was made from chalk. The lower ward houses St Georges Chapel and buildings associated with the Order of the Garter. Windsor Castle is one of the many attractions to be found in Berkshire and is well worth a visit. The sprawling grandeur and decadence is not to be missed. There are many places to stay in and around Berkshire and you can be sure you will find some of the highest quality accommodation. Why not check out Cantley House hotel Berkshire if you are planning to visit
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Cantley, House, hotel, Berkshire,
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