The fountain was built to mark 60 years reign of Queen Elizabeth. It has 60 jets that give the impression of a crown. Looks nice in the evening light and on a sunny day the little ones enjoyed splashing around in it.
The original crooked house was built in 1592. In 1687 the council had to rebuild it having demolished it to make way for the Guildhall to the right. The tilt has occurred because of unseasoned Green Oak being used.
The street to the side of it is Queen Charlotte street and is said to be at 50feet 10 inches the shortest street in Britain. I bet somewhere else claims the record but it is cute and at the top you can see the pub handy to quench your thirst after an epic walk.
The guard having been changed inside Windsor Castle the relieved guard (right) march back to their nearby barracks. These are Coldstream Guards recognised by the Red plume on the right side of their bearskin. The bearskin in the past has been made from Canadian bear fur.
Nowadays when they become unserviceable artificial fur is used
The arch they march through, the Henry VIII gateway, was many years ago fully accessible to the public enabling watching the guard being changed and a view of the inside walls.
Today you must purchase a ticket to access any part of the castle. Below is a short video I took of the guard arriving. Castle map.
3 comments:
Hi Les and Jaq
Glad you liked your visit to Windsor. I spent a lot of my childhood in Windsor as both sets of my Grandparents lived there, next to the river a little further towards Maidenhead. Back then I would spend part of my summer holidays there and the castle was a regular visit for me, when it was free to get in.
When you get to Maidenhead, when I was a kid, there use to be an aviary on the island near one of the locks. I don't know if it is still there, been over 30 years since I last went there.
As you sail between Windsor and Maidenhead, there are some big houses that back onto the Thames. You will also pass the famous Bray Studios where a lot of the Hammer Films were made.
Happy sailing and I hope you both enjoy this stretch of the Thames.
Mick
Hi Mick,
Yes the aviary is still there are Boulter's Lock. Maidenhead and the Thames on up that reach. Take care!
Les
Hi Les
Thanks, that's great to know, think it might be a trip up there in the next couple of weeks when I'm off. It'll be nice to show Kyran around Windsor and the surrounding area that I grew to love so much when I was his age. So many happy memories for me. You will properly be much further up the Thames by then so it might be a little harder to catch up with you both.
Speak to you a bit later.
Mick
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