Visiting Warwick Castle

Hello everyone.

Another week has flown by, and it has been very hot in this small corner. Many parts of the UK have experienced unusually hot weather for this time of year, and lots of us have been trying to find a shady spot to stay cool. 

For most of the week, we have managed to avoid the sun's intense rays, but on Wednesday, we braved a day out. D is on a half-term holiday, and she suggested a trip to Warwick Castle. Although we bought the tickets before the hot weather arrived, thankfully, Wednesday was not as unbearably hot for us as Monday and Tuesday.

Inside the grounds, we made our way to where the trebuchet demonstration was about to start. Sadly, it was mostly a talk, as part of the firing and arming mechanism was faulty, and they didn't want to cause an accident. This did actually happen in 2015 when a burning projectile damaged a Victorian boathouse on the River Avon. The trebuchet is currently the largest functioning construction of its kind and was built in 2005, based on historical designs. It stands 18 metres tall and can fire missiles weighing 36kg up to 300 metres.

We then enjoyed the newest attraction at Warwick Castle called 'Viking Invaders'. 

This was a live-action, action-packed stunt show with horses and riders, explosions, and bravery, telling the tale of Ethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great, and her bravery in leading her people against Viking invaders.  

While we were having lunch, we were treated to a wonderful falconry and birds of prey display, which was linked to a story about a young falconer's quest to bring back the finest birds of prey to Warwick Castle. 

Then it was on to the castle itself. We joined an excellent guided tour that gave a whistle-stop talk on the history of the castle and the Earls of Warwick. 

One of the interesting facts we learned was about the castle's defences. D was especially interested in the gatehouse and Barbican defences.

Anybody attempting to attack the castle needed to breach a portcullis, knock down a heavy oak door, and avoid the murder holes, through which the defenders could throw boiling oil and quick lime on your head. Once, there was an uncovered space where you might have a deluge of arrows fired down at you. If that was not enough, you then had to repeat the process of getting through the portcullis and the oak door, only a few steps further into the castle.

I think if you managed to survive all that, you deserved to get into the castle.

We did not try entering by this method. Instead, we enjoyed a leisurely walk around the inside of the castle to view an impressive display of armoury and some of the rooms showcasing furniture and items from various time periods. Some rooms also featured waxwork figures of historical characters to enhance the experience. 

We had not been to Warwick for many years, and we were glad to make a return visit, enjoying both the castle and the grounds as well as all the other attractions on offer. 

I hope that you have all had a good week, whatever you have been doing. 

Next week, hubby and I will be away, but D will keep an eye on things until we get back.

Thinking of you until we return from our travels

B x