SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Today’s adventure in greater London was a bus tour to Windsor Castle.
Fred and I had visited this magnificent castle back in 1970, and I shall present some of the pictures we took at that time in this post.
We were told that Windsor Castle is Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite castle. While I don’t remember going inside anywhere, I can still see why she loves it so much.
We saw many beautiful parts of this castle. We saw the King Henry VIII Gate.
We saw King George’s Chapel (here with a corner of the barracks).
We were allowed to be and see the inside courtyard, and took several pictures from different angles.
I really loved the stoneworks that make up this castle. It’s just lovely.
Back in 1970, as we were walking toward the castle, we were told by the guide to be very careful during the changing of the guards. Especially as they headed toward the barracks. He said that, because they had been on duty and were tired, that they stopped for no one on their march to the barracks!! So watch out!! Don’t get in their way, or you will be run over!
Outside the castle itself, we saw the castle from the distance, along with a bronze statue of Queen Victoria – in the middle of the street! It is well kept.
While we enjoyed our tour of the castle grounds, Fred and I had the pleasure, back in 1970, of seeing a part of Windsor that is seldom seen by the general public. We were told, back then, that we would be able to see the Queen’s Apartment Gardens – but only because she was not in attendance at Windsor at that time. We were thrilled!! That was a once-in-a-lifetime event for us. Here are the pictures we took – of the Queen’s apartment, and the gardens she saw when she looked out her windows. Beautiful!
Back in 1970, from one point in Windsor, we were able to see Eton College. Here is a picture from then.
From Windsor, we went to Hampton Court Palace.
This is another lovely piece of English history. The building was begun in 1515 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. In reading some articles on Google, it seems that King Henry VIII more-or-less confiscated it from Wolsey following a falling-out between them, in 1529. Henry then enlarged the palace for his own pleasure.
Hampton Court is a great place to visit if you are ever in the London area. And I would like to say here, that if you ever come to Orlando, and go do Disney World, and EPCOT especially, when you get to the country of “England” – look at the front of the store and you will see Hampton Court. The store front looks like Anne Boleyn’s Gate. But also look up at the brick chimneys – they remind me so much of Hampton Court! I hope they were built at EPCOT with that just in mind. Delightful!
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
beautiful
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A confession from a Londoner. I think I went to Hampton Court when at primary school (age 5-11) and I have never been to Windsor Castle. I went to St Paul’s Cathedral for the first time last autumn. Tourist see more notable place in London than I’ve ever seen. As far England is concerned, I’ve seen very little in 68 years. Been to Scotland and Wales once. Northern Ireland never but Southern Ireland a few times. Cornwall..probably the most dramatic part of England, many times and wished I lived there.
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It’s the same here, people live near a historical site and haven’t explored it. Since we don’t have castles here in the US, we find them fascinating and for me, the history they represent.
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