Laura: Comparison on Cardiff Castle and Warwick Castle. By Jack, Laura, Bethan,
Ellie and Aimee
Ellie: Warwick Castle is Britain’s Ultimate Castle!
Laura: The beginning. The history of Warwick Castle dates back almost 1,100 years.
The first castle, on the site was a wooden motte and bailey constructed in 1068 at the
command of William the Conqueror. The castle is now open for the public to come
and visit and see this historical attraction. In our presentation we will compare and
contrast Warwick Castle and Cardiff Castle and evaluate what the two castles offer
for primary school children.
Ellie: Information on Warwick- Play Entertainment. The Pageant Playground is a superb
picnic spot and is a great place for children. This play area includes various ropes,
swings, nets, tubes, ramps, spiral slides, high level walkways and rock climbing fences.
Fit for any Prince or Princess
Laura: Dungeon. The re-enactments bring the dungeon to life. They highlight what life
was like through the Plague, elements of torture, a court trial and even a gruesome
beheading! Are you brave enough to entre?
Ellie: Activities During the Summer. The Princess Tower opens 11th July which will be a
new attraction, especially for youngsters! Activities start 18th July. This is activities such
as the trebuchet firing, Ballista, Warwick Bowman who will tell tales of battle, a cooks
tent and Medieval Camp.
Laura: Military Zone. The trebuchet will be firing twice daily in a jaw dropping
environment on the Castle’s River Island. Clarence Tower was formed as part of the
great keep or fort of which Richard of Gloucester, later Richard III started to build in
1478.
Ellie: Towers in Warwick Castle. Caesar‘s tower was built on the orders of Thomas de
Beauchamp and is a masterpiece of the 14th Century military architecture. The Ghost
Tower in Warwick Castle was first built in the 14th Century to guard against enemy
approaches from the river. The tower is supposedly haunted by the restless spirit of Sir
Fulke Greville, who was murdered by his maidservant.
Laura: Grand Interiors, State Rooms. Retaining parts of the medieval castle of the 14th
Century, the state rooms have been extended, altered and embellished during
virtually every century since to lavishly entertain the noblest of guests and to pay
display to the family’s most prestigious possessions.
These rooms include: The Chapel, State Dining Room, The Great Hall, The Red Drawing
Room, The Cedar Drawing Room, The Green Drawing Room, The Queen Anne
Bedroom, and The Blue Boudoir
Ellie: The Great Outdoors, a Stunning Outdoor Experience! Warwick Castle has a
Conservatory and Peacock Garden which was built in 1786 by local mason, William
Eborall. Directly outside the conservatory is the Peacock Garden which was designed
by landscape gardener Robert Marnock.
The Victorian Rose Garden is another amazing outdoor attraction
Laura: A Royal Weekend 1898. In the 1890’s, under the guiding and lavish hand of
Frances, (fondly know as Daisy), Countess of Warwick, the castle became a favourite
retreat for some of the most important figures in late Victorian society. Most of the
furnishings and fittings which are in the castle were actually there in 1898.
The rooms were: The Library, The Music Room, Smoking Room, Ladies’ Boudoir, Daisy’s
Bedroom, Carnation Bedroom, Dowager’s Bedroom, Earl’s Dressing Room, Kenilworth
Bedroom, and the Chinese Bedroom.
Ellie: There were 42 Earls of Warwick, dating back from 1088 all the way through to the
present day. Here are just a few Earls:
Henry de Newburgh
Roger de Newburgh
William Mauduit
Thomas de Beauchamp
Anne Beauchamp
Ambrose Dudley
Robert Rich I
George Greville
Henry Richard Greville
Leopold Guy Greville
Guy Greville
Laura: Much more history has happened in Warwick but here is a selection of dates:
1068 William the Conqueror built a motte and bailey fort.
1572 Queen Elizabeth I visited Warwick Castle.
2004 Nearly 400 years after his brutal murder, Sir Fulke Greville’s ghost has come back!
Ellie: Dungeon- actors re-created scenes from the Plague .. Museum- we saw plastic
people re-create scenes from Royal Weekend 1898 .. Shop- many souvenirs were sold
in the shop.. Bird Show- birds flew high above out heads and came down for food..
Battlement and Views- we walked all around the battlements and saw amazing
views.
Laura: Cardiff Castle, 2,000 years of history!
Ellie: The Beginning. Cardiff Castle is located in the heart of Cardiff. Started off with
the Romans establishing the fort.
Laura: Information on Cardiff. Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage
attractions and is a site of international significance. Located in the heart of the
capital of Wales, within parklands, the Castle walls and fairytale towers conceal 2,000
years of history. There is a shop and restaurant recently redecorated and developed
on the castle site. There is a falconry and an education centre. From the top of the
keep, the views are amazing and you can see the Millennium Stadium, all across
town and even Castell Coch.
Ellie: The castle has been occupied by various people in many different centuries.
Romans 55-400AD
Normans 1091-1216
The Clares 1216-1306AD
The Despencers1306-1411AD
The Beauchamp's 1411-1445AD
The Neville's 1411-1483AD
The Tudors 1485-1550AD
The Herbert's 1550-1766AD
The Butes1766-1947AD
Own by Cardiff City Council and open to the public 1947-present day
Laura: The Romans established a fort. The Normans rose a motte and bailey castle.
Black Tower was built. Octagon Tower and Hall Block was built. The house was
enlarged and altered. Castle transformed into Gothic.
Ellie: Castle Tour- we were shown several spectacular rooms in the castle.. Education
Centre- shown many weapons and armour.. Birds- falconry centre with many birds..
Keep and Views- we walked up to the keep and saw views of all over Cardiff, like
Castell Coch and Millennium Stadium.. Shop- also a shop and restaurant which sold
souvenirs
Laura: In conclusion we decided that Warwick Castle is the better place for school
children to visit. This is because of the amazing facilities it provides. Things such as the
dungeon and re-enactments and Royal Weekend Museum.