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Collegiate Church of St Mary Old Square Tel: +44 (0)1926 403940 Website: www.stmaryswarwick.org.uk
St Mary's Collegiate Church dominates the overall view of the centre of Warwick with its imposing tower, rebuilt along with much of the church in 1704 by Sir William Wilson after the Great Fire of Warwick. There has been a church on the site since Saxon times, but the saxon church was rebuilt by Roger de Newburgh in 1123.
Howerver, the magnificent medieval Beauchamp Chapel escaped the devastating fire of 1694 and houses the tombs of past Earls of Warwick including Richard Beauchamp's tomb described in Simon Jenkin's book 'England's 1000 Best Churches' as "one of the masterpieces of medieval art" and was awarded a 5-star rating.
St Mary's also contains The Chapel of The Royal Warickshire Regiment and Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery's garter banner hangs outside the Chapel. There is also the Norman Crypt dating back to 1123 AD and contains one of only 2 remaining ducking stools in England.
A glorious view of the town, surrounding countryside and the Castle can be seen from the top of the tower - well worth climbing the 134 steps to see.
OPEN - Daily Summer 10.00am - 17.40pm Winter 10.00am - 16.10pm
CHURCH ADMISSION FREE (Donation welcome)
Tower open all year (weather permitting) - there is a small admission charge
Visit the official St Mary's Church web site - click here. St Mary's boasts four choirs. For further details, please click here. Hill Close Gardens Off Friars Street Warwick CV34 6HF Tel: 01926 493339 E-mail: CentreManager@hcgt.org.uk Website: www.hillclosegardens.com Hill Close Gardens, Bread & Meat Close, Warwick CV34 6HF. Tel. 01926 493339. This delightful network of individual Victorian gardens, separated by high hedges, has recently been restored using Heritage Lottery funding. Delightful summerhouses, gnarled old fruit trees, and heritage flowers and vegetables welcome the visitor to this tranquil spot. Buy plants and historic varieties of fruit and vegetables in season. Enjoy tea, coffee and cake in the new "sustainable" visitor centre. View the changing displays. Gifts for sale. Saturdays and Bank Holidays, 11-5; Fridays and Sundays 2-5. (Easter till last weekend in October) Admission: adults £3.00; children under 12 free. Access from racecourse car park off Friars Street (2 hours free parking available). For more information on special events and educational activities please view www.hillclosegardens.com. All year round guided tours are available for groups of over 10 people at a charge of £6 a head to include entrance, services of a guide and tea and cake. Also the Centre (capacity 60 people) has a well equipped kitchen and good projection facilities and is available for hire. Further information on both tours and lettings can be obtained from the Centre Manager tel 01926 493339 or email Centremanager@hcgt.org.uk. Lord Leycester Hospital and Master's Garden High Street Tel: +44 (0)1926 491422 E-mail: lordleycester@btinternet.com Website: www.lordleycester.com
The historic group of buildings that now comprise the Hospital, is now dominated by the ancient Chantry Chapel of St James, built over the West Gate into Warwick by Thomas Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, in the latter half of the 14th Century.
The Guild of St George was created under a license issued by King Richard II on 20th April, 1383, and Thomas Beauchamp granted the benefice of the Chantry Chapel to the Guild on its formation. Sometime between 1386 and 1413, the Guild of the Blessed Virgin, based at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, joined the Guild of St George at the West Gate. To accommodate the resident priests and the guilds, reception, meeting and dining halls were built as well as living quarters. They became known as the United Guilds of Warwick.
In 1546, when they were dispersed by King Henry VIII, the United Guilds were able to save their property from seizure through the admirable foresight of their Master, Thomas Oken, who had it transferred to the Burgesses of Warwick.
In 1571, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leycester acquired the buildings and founded, under charter from Queen Elizabeth I, a Hospital for aged or disabled soldiers and their wives. The Charter set up a corporation consisting of the Master in charge of the Hospital and the twelve resident Brethren, which was endowed with estates producing an income of £200 per year. To accommodate them, parts of the buildings, including the Guildhall itself, were divided into primitive quarters. These arrangements remained unchanged until 1950, when the Guildhall was cleared and the number of Brethren temporarily reduced to five.
Saltisford Canal Trust The Saltisford Tel: +44 (0)1926 490006 Website: www.saltisfordcanal.co.uk
Colourful canal urban fringe park, run by local charity on the Saltisford Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Gardens, picnic sites, day hire canal boats with full disabled access, canal side shop and information centre, refreshments, day fishing and overnight visitor moorings.
Open daily year round, Shop open 7 days a week March to October, Weekdays November to February. St John's Museum St John's Tel: +44 (0)1926 412132 or 412021
A charming Jacobean mansion housing period reconstructions of a Victorian kitchen and classroom. Includes dolls and toys, a discovery room for the under 5's and also houses the Royal Warwickshire Regimental Museum. Children most welcome. Landscaped gardens suitable for picnics.
OPEN ALL YEAR (Closed Mondays) - ADMISSION FREE (donations welcome)
Tuesday - Saturday (also Bank Holiday Mondays) Sundays (April - September only) 14.30 - 17.00 St Nicholas Park
Includes a crazy golf course, amusement rides, children's play area, pony rides, outdoor paddling pool and boats for hire (summer only), tennis, football courts, recreation ground, indoor swimming pool and leisure centre, sports facilities, cafe, BMX track and Boules rink. The Mill Garden Mill Street Warwick Tel: 01926 492877
At the bottom of Mill Street is the Mill Garden, famed for the quality of its planting in an unbelievable setting. It was created over a period of sixty years by the late Arthur Measures, who made it a personal expression of his love of plants.
On one side are the river and the ruin of the mediaeval bridge, whose roadway once led across where there are now lawns and flowers. In a lucky year, swans nest in its shelter. On the other side, Caesar's Tower looms overhead. The stone walls of the castle give one of the most dramatic backdrops for any garden.
Open: April-October daily 9am-6pm, Admission £1.50, accompanied young children free, plant sales. Tel: 01926 492877. The Queen's Own Hussars Museum The Lord Leycester Hospital, 60 High Street Warwick Tel: +144 (0)1926 492035 E-mail: qohmuseum@qrh.org.uk Website: www.qohmuseum.org.uk
The Cavalry Regiment of the West Midlands – the past to the present
Normally Open Tues to Sat
Covering over 300 years of service of the senior light cavalry regiment of the British Army, the lives of a few individuals have been chosen to bring to life each era. A chronology board relates the regimental and military events to other national and local historical events.
The Museum starts with the raising of the regiment and early service (1685-1742). The wars against the French (1742-1815) include the Battle of Dettingen and the story of Thomas Brown, the Gallant Dragoon. The Napoleonic Wars cases highlight the Peninsular Campaign and Waterloo.
19th Century and Colonial Wars (1815-1914) are illustrated through life-sized tableaux, one being a scene featuring Captain Walter Unett, a local man, and one and one of a stable and a trooper preparing his horse for review. There are displays commemorating the two Indian Mutiny VCs, photographs of 19th century life, and displays of pre-and post-khaki uniforms and equipment.
The museum has been further redeveloped in 2003/4. The new displays chart the changeover to modern tank warfare during the 1930s, Second World War, and post War highlights including peacekeeping.
An audio-visual experience shows the part played by the Regiment at great cost in the in the closing stages of the Battle of El Alamein, in the 8th Army under command of General Montgomery of the Warwickshire Regiment
The story into the 21st Century includes a large screen display of a Challenger 2 tank, showing all the crew positions and their tasks. There are also a Medal Collection, archives for research and enquiries, handling items, family fun activities, and a small shop. Warwick Castle Tel: +44 (0)870 442 2000
Britain's greatest Mediaeval experience at Warwick Castle. From a Mediaeval household in the Kingmaker exhibition to a Victorian 'Royal Weekend Party'. Kingmaker feasts and Highwayman Suppers most Fridays and Saturdays.
Experience our Interactive 360º Panorama
Opening Times Warwick Castle is open all year except Christmas Day. January - March, October - December: 10am - 5pm
A child is aged 4 - 16 years inclusive.
For more information, try the Official Warwick Castle Web Site Warwick Racecourse Hampton Street Warwick CV34 6HN Tel: 01926 491553 Website: www.warwickracecourse.co.uk/ Warwick Racecourse is one of the leading flat and steeple chasing courses and has a regular programme of 25 meetings throughout the year.
The central grandstand incorporates the first stand built in 1808. In 2000 it underwent a £3 million refurbishment, which includes a new restaurant, a betting shop, better disabled facilities, increased viewing steppings and Bar facilities. Admission Charges 2008
* The Course Enclosure will now be closed until Spring 2008 and will be open on Weekends and Bank Holidays throughout the Flat Season Warwickshire Museum - Market Hall Market Hall Tel: +44 (0)1926 412500 or 412501
The Warwickshire Museum contains displays of Archaeology, Geology and Natural History, The Great Fire of Warwick and Sheldon's Tapestry Map.
OPEN ALL YEAR (Closed Mondays)
ADMISSION FREE (Donations welcome) Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum The Court House, Jury Street CV34 4EW Tel: +44 (0)1926 492212
Uniforms, arms, swords, sabres and selected silver. Other times by appointment. ADMISSION FREE
On the 25th June 1794 the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, the Earl of Warwick had raised by public subscription sufficient money to raise a force of Volunteer Cavalry for the defence of the County in the event of invasion by the French, with whom we were at war. This force comprising Gentlemen and Yeomanry of the County was named the Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry and its first commanding officer was the 4th Earl of Aylesford.
The Regiment has had unbroken service since that date and has always comprised men of Warwickshire who have followed normal civilian occupations in peacetime, but have voluntarily trained for war at drill nights, weekends and annual camps. When an internal threat of war has occurred, the Regiment has mobilised to full time service with the forces of the Crown. Over 2000 members of Warwickshire families have served in the Regiment over the past 200 years.
During the 19th Century the Regiment was frequently called out to help maintain law and order in Birmingham, Coventry and Bedworth - particularly during the Chartist Riots from 1837-1840. A volunteer Squadron of the Regiment served with great distinction in the Boer War for a year and a half. The Regiment was mobilised in the Great War and the Second World War and served with great gallantry throughout them both. In the Great War at Gallipoli and at the battles of Katia, Romani, Rafa, El Arish and Huj in Palestine, the latter the scene of the Regiment's famous cavalry charge. In the Second World War the Regiment served in Iraq, Syria and Persia and then with the 8th Army at the Battle of El Alamein where only seven tanks of the Regiment survived, and later the Regiment fought throughout the Italian campaign.
In 1956 the Warwickshire Yeomanry amalgamated with the Worcestershire Yeomanry to form The Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry. In 1969 the Regiment was reduced by defence cuts to a Cadre and a Signals Squadron. The Cadre expanded in 1971 to a Squadron of the Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry which in 1992 became The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry. Today our serving successor Squadrons of the Warwickshire Yeomanry are A(QOWWY) Squadron of The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry and 67(QOWWY) Signal Squadron of 37 Signal Regiment. |
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