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Royal Windsor
Windsor Castle has dominated the river for over 900 years, and the Saxon settlement of Windlesora takes the history of the area back to the 7th century. The Norman castle was originally built in timber, but was rebuilt in stone, and the outer walls and Round Tower were added under Henry II.
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Windsor Castle from the Brocas |
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Eton College |
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Eton College, on the opposite bank of the river was founded by Henry VI in 1440, initially supplying scholars to King's College, Cambridge which was built in the same period. The college has always had a strong rowing club, and has just created a rowing lake to Olympic standards for the 21st century. Archaeological discoveries during its construction revealed possible Iron or Bronze Age walkways or bridges across one of the old river channels.
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Magna Carta... Sign here
In 1215, somewhere in the vicinity of Runnymede, King John signed the Magna Carta. The document was actually a list of demands made by the barons, but it has become known as one of the great milestones of democracy.
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Magna Carta Island |
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London Stone |
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London Stone
Until the end of the 12th century, the monarchy held all rights to the river. In 1197, Richard I needed to raise funds for the crusades, and sold the rights to the Corporation of London, allowing them to license watermen and tax fish traps, etc. The London stone near Staines, erected in 1285, marked the western boundary of these rights.
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Introduction
Windsor
