List of owners of Warwick Castle

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Coordinates: 52°16′45″N 1°35′08″W / 52.2793°N 1.58552°W / 52.2793; -1.58552

Warwick Castle and the River Avon
Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle, in Warwickshire, UK, was first constructed in 1068. Over its 950 years of history it has been owned by 36 different individuals, plus four periods as crown property under seven different monarchs. It was the family seat of three separate creations of the Earls of Warwick, and has been a family home for members of the Beaumont, Beauchamp, Neville, Plantagenet, Dudley and Greville families. The first creation of the Earldom, in 1088, specifically included the right of inheritance through the female line, so the castle three times had a woman (or girl) as the owner. Eleven of the owners were under 20 when they inherited, including a girl aged two and a boy aged three. At least three owners died in battle, two were executed and one was murdered.

Various owners have entertained royalty at the castle, under very different circumstances. Henry II tricked his way into the castle, Edward IV was held prisoner in it. Elizabeth I, William III and Victoria all made state visits.

Every century except the 21st has seen major building work or adaptations at the castle. For 100 years it was an earth mound and timber buildings. The next 300 years saw the building of the external walls and towers in stone. During the 210 years between 1500 and 1710 the living areas were transformed from medieval fortress rooms to a stately residence with elegant state rooms. In the 18th and 19th centuries the living areas were further adapted, the grounds were laid out and furnishings were acquired in great quantity. The 20th century saw the transition from aristocratic home to visitor attraction.[1]

Table of owners[]

Table of owners of Warwick Castle and their construction activity
Period of ownership Name (year of birth and death) Title Construction work r events
1068–1087 William the Conqueror
(1028–1087)		 King Bayeux Tapestry WillelmDux.jpg
The Norman Motte at Warwick Castle
Earth motte and bailey with timber stockades
1087–1088 William II
(c.1056–1100)		 King
1088–1119 Henry de Beaumont (de Newburgh)
(c1045-1119)		 1st Earl of Warwick
1119–1153 Roger de Beaumont (de Newburgh)
(1102–1153)		 2nd Earl of Warwick Went on Crusade. When Henry of Anjou (later Henry II) invaded England, he tricked Roger's wife into surrendering the castle.[2]
1153–1184 William de Beaumont (de Newburgh)
(1128–1184)		 3rd Earl of Warwick
The stone foundations of the outer wall were begun in the 12th century
Rebuilding in stone began, including a house in the castle.[3]		 May have died on Crusade
1184–1203 Waleran de Beaumont (de Newburgh)
(1153–1204)		 4th Earl of Warwick Brother of 3rd Earl
1203–1229 Henry de Beaumont (de Newburgh)
(1192–1229)		 5th Earl of Warwick Some existing curtain wall dates to this period.[3]
1229–1242 Thomas de Beaumont (de Newburg)
(1208–1242)		 6th Earl of Warwick Died without children, so title passed to his sister.
1242 Margaret de Newburg
(Margery) (d,1253?)		 7th Countess of Warwick Sister of the 6th Earl. Although she owned the castle in her own right, it was 'taken into the king's hand as a pledge for a suitable remarriage'.[2]
1242–1263 John Du Plessis
(1210–1263)		 7th Earl of Warwick Married Margaret and was created 7th Earl. They had no children.[2] On the Earl's death the title and castle passed to Margaret's nephew, William Mauduit, grandson of Waleran.
1263–1268 William Mauduit
(1220–1268)		 8th Earl of Warwick In 1264, in the Second Barons' War, Simon De Montfort succeeded in a surprise attack on the castle, taking the Earl and his wife hostage.[2]
1268–1298 William de Beauchamp
(1237–1298)		 9th Earl of Warwick
Castle wall facing the River Avon
The earliest windows facing the river date from this time.[4]		 William Mauduit's sister Isabel married William de Beauchamp, and their son, William was heir to the Earldom and castle.
1298–1315 Guy de Beauchamp
(c. 1272 – 1315)		 10th Earl of Warwick Embroiled in the execution of Gaveston
1329–1369 Thomas de Beauchamp
(1313–1369)		 11th Earl of Warwick Thomas de Beauchamp, Katherine Mortimer, Earl Warwick.jpg
the Gatehouse Tower and Caesar's Tower
Thomas built Caesar's Tower and the Gatehouse Tower.[3]		 His effigy, holding his wife Katherine's hand, is in the chancel of St Mary's Church Warwick.[5]
1369–1401 Thomas De Beauchamp
(1339–1401)		 12th Earl of Warwick
Guys Tower, Warwick Castle
Built Guy's Tower (1394) and the wall to the gatehouse.[3]		 Convicted of Treason against Richard II and pardoned by Henry IV.[6]
1401–1439 Richard de Beauchamp
(1382–1439)		 13th Earl of Warwick Richard de Beauchamp effigy Warwick Church.jpg Supervised the execution of Joan of Arc.[1] Endowed St Mary's Church to build the Beauchamp Chapel where his effigy takes centre stage.[7]
1439–1446 Henry Beauchamp
(1425–1446)		 14th Earl and 1st Duke of Warwick Died without a son aged 21, so the Dukedom expired and Earldom passed to his baby daughter, Anne.
1446–1449 Anne Beauchamp
(1444–1449)		 15th Countess of Warwick When Anne died in childhood the Earldom passed to Henry's sister, also called Anne, and her husband Richard Neville.[2]
1449–1471 Anne
(1426–1492) and Richard Neville ('Warwick the Kingmaker') (1428–1471)		 16th Earl and Countess of Warwick
Warwick Castle gatehouse and barbican
Gatehouse and barbican completed.[1] In 1469 Warwick rebelled against Edward IV and imprisoned him in the castle, until Royalist protests forced him to release the king.[2]		 Although Anne had brought both castle and earldom to the marriage, on Richard's death she lost both. Of their two children, Isabella married the Duke of Clarence, while her younger daughter, also Anne, married the future Richard III. They haggled over how to divide the inheritance even though the 16th Countess outlived them all.[2]
1472–1478 George Plantagenet
(1449–1478)		 Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick Along with gaining control (although with uncertain ownership) of the castle, George was made Earl of Warwick under a new creation.[2]
1478–1499 Edward Plantagenet
(1475–1499)		 Earl of Warwick
Clarence and Bear Towers, with Guy's Tower behind
The Bear and Clarence Towers were built around this period as stair turrets of a large tower begun by Richard III but left unfinished.[3]		 Edward was 3 when his father George died (by rumour, drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine), so the Warwick estates were held in custody by the Crown.[2] Following the Simnel and Warbeck controversies, Edward was executed aged 21, and the Crown's title to Warwick Castle became absolute.[2]
1499–1547 Crown Property 1499–1509, Henry VII, 1509–47, Henry VIII
State Rooms and Spy Tower
Kitchens improved, Spy Tower built, and state rooms extended.[1]
1547–1553 John Dudley I
(1504–1553)		 created Earl of Warwick, Duke of Northumberland John Dudley (Knole, Kent).jpg The Earldom and subsequent grant of the castle were part of Dudley's rapid rise to power during wars with France and Scotland. Embroiled, with his son Guildford, in Lady Jane Grey's claim to the throne. Executed by Mary I.[2]
1553–1554 John Dudley II
(c.1527–1554)		 2nd Earl of Warwick The younger John Dudley used the title of Earl of Warwick as a courtesy title when his father was made a Duke, and inherited the earldom in his own right when the elder Dudley died. Condemned for treason alongside his father, he was reprieved, but died soon after his release.[2]
1554–1562 Crown Property 1554–1558, Mary I;
1558–1561, Elizabeth I.[2]
1562–1590 Ambrose Dudley
(c.1530–1590)		 created Earl of Warwick in 1561Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick.jpg Younger son of the Duke of Northumberland. Restored to favour (Elizabeth I visited the castle in 1572[1]) but died without an heir, so the castle again reverted to the Crown.[2]
1590–1604 Crown Property 1590–1603, Elizabeth I; 1603–04, James I
1604–1628 Fulke Greville
(1554–1628)		 created Baron Brooke in 1621 Fulke Greville 1st Baron Brooke.jpg
Winding path up the Norman mound
Substantial repairs and improvements to castle and grounds, including the winding path up the mound.[2]		 Sir Fulke was granted the castle by James I, but without much of its former estates.[2] The title of Earl of Warwick was separated from the castle, and conferred on Lord Rich and his descendants in 1618, where it remained until 1759.[1] Fulke was murdered by a trusted old servant, aggrieved that he was not included in Fulke's will.[8]
1628–1643 Robert Greville
(1607–1643)		 2nd Baron Brooke 2ndLordBrooke.jpg The Castle withstood a siege by Royalists in 1642, and held prisoners in the dungeon.[1] Fulke Greville never married, but a provision allowed the barony and castle to pass to his cousin. Robert fought for the Parliamentarians in the Civil War and was killed at the siege of Litchfield.[9]
1643–1658 Francis Greville
(died 1658)		 3rd Baron Brooke He had no children and was succeeded in turn by his two brothers, Robert and Fulke.[9]
1658–1677 Robert Greville
(c.1638–1677)		 4th Baron Brooke Robert began, in 1670, the refitting of the state rooms. A work carried on much more thoroughly by his brother Fulke.[10] Robert was one of the six peers chosen to invite the return of Charles II.[9]
1677–1710 Fulke Greville
(1643–1710)		 5th Baron Brooke
Blue Boudoir at Warwick Castle
Panelling in the Red Drawing Room and Cedar Room was installed around 1681.[10] Also the Blue Boudoir and a number of upstairs interiors date to this period.[1]		 William III visited the castle in 1695.[1] Fulke's two sons, Fulke and William each succeeded him to the barony.[9]
1710–1711 Fulke Greville
(1693–1711)		 6th Baron Brooke
1711–1727 William Greville
(1695–1727)		 7th Baron Brooke
1727–1773 Francis Greville
(1719–1773)		 8th Baron Brooke created Earl Brooke and in 1759, 1st Earl of Warwick in a new creation.
The gardens created by Capability Brown
From the 1740s there began a 50-year period of major works to many parts of the castle. Francis built a new two-storey block alongside the Great Hall, and cut the passage through the wall to join the two upstairs sets of rooms.[1] He commissioned Capability Brown to lay out the gardens in 1753. Canaletto painted five views of Warwick Castle at the request of the Earl during his two visits to England in 1746-50 and 1751-55.[11] The Chapel interior was refitted in 1759. The State Dining Room was completed in 1765, as was the stable block.[12]		 When the last of the Rich family died without heir, Francis successfully petitioned for the Earldom, and founded the fourth creation of the Earls of Warwick.[9]
1773–1816 George Greville
(1746–1816)		 2nd Earl of Warwick
The conservatory at Warwick Castle
George acquired many of the pictures, books, arms and armour that still furnish the castle. He bought a huge Roman vase, and built the conservatory to house it. He cut through the bedrock to create a winding driveway, made the lake, and planted the grounds with trees.[8]		 The expense of these and other projects bankrupted the Earl for some years from 1804.[1]
1816–1853 Henry Richard Greville
(1779–1853)		 3rd Earl of Warwick Henry Greville.JPG
1853–1893 George Guy Greville
(1818–1893)		 4th Earl of Warwick
Great Hall at Warwick Castle
Substantial repairs were undertaken following a fire in the Great Hall in 1871, paid for by public subscription.[10]
1893–1924 Francis Richard Greville
(1853–1924)		 5th Earl of Warwick Francis Greville Vanity Fair 3 May 1890.jpg
1924–1928 Leopold Guy Greville
(1882–1928)		 6th Earl of Warwick
1928–1967 Charles Guy Greville
(1911–1984)		 7th Earl of Warwick In 1967 the 7th Earl gave his estates absolutely to his only son David, Lord Brooke and deserted them to avoid future death duties.[13] Charles retired to Rome and Switzerland where he died in 1984.
1967-1978.
(1934-1996)		 8th Earl of Warwick In 1978 the castle and many of its contents were sold, reportedly as a 99-year lease, to Tussauds Group.[13] Lord Brooke, having sold the castle in 1978 inherited the Earldom in 1984 and was succeeded by Guy 9th Earl of Warwick in 1996.
1978–2007 Tussauds Group
Visitors at Warwick Castle
The castle was converted from private residence (although open to the public) to a major visitor attraction.[14]		 Tussauds was owned by S Pearson and Son (to 1999), Charterhouse Development Capital (to 2005) and Dubai International Capital (to 2007).
2007– present Merlin Entertainments Group Bought by Blackstone Group and Tussauds Group was merged with other holdings to form Merlin Entertainments

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k warwick-castle.com/explore/towers-and-ramparts See this and the other Explore History sections of the Warwick Castle Official website
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Stephens 1969, p. 453.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Pevsner 1966, p. 453.
  4. ^ Pevsner 1966, p. 454.
  5. ^ Pevsner 1966, p. 447.
  6. ^ Round, J. H. (1908). "Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick". Dictionary of National Biography. 2. pp. 32–33.
  7. ^ Pevsner 1966, p. 449.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Mee, Arthur, 1936, Warwickshire, The King England series, p.270-273
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Burke, Sir Bernard, (1938 ed) Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. Shaw, London. p.2519-22
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c Pevsner 1966, p. 455.
  11. ^ art fund.org
  12. ^ Pevsner 1966, p. 456.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b New York Times obituary of 8th Earl, 24 January 1996
  14. ^ Historic England. "Warwick Castle (333577)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 8 June 2011.

Bibliography[]

  • Pevsner, Nikolaus; Wedgewood, Alexandra (1966). Warwickshire. The Buildings of England. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-300-09679-8.
  • Stephens, W.B. (Editor) (1969). "Victoria County History for Warwickshire". A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 8: The City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 18 May 2011.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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