Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

London, Day 5: Out of Town

by

Yesterday we took a taxi, two trains, a bus and another taxi (one way) to visit the ruins of Kenilworth Castle.

Kenilworth

Why was I so determined to get there? Because the castle has many links to the royal ladies in my life.

  • The castle was given to its first owner by Empress Matilda‘s dad, Henry I.
  • In 1327, Isabella’s husband Edward II was forced to abdicate while imprisoned at Kenilworth.
  • Katherine Swynford‘s lovah, John of Gaunt, owned the castle later in the 1300s.
  • In 1563, Elizabeth I gave Kenilworth to her down-low BF, Robert Dudley, who threw her a tremendous house party in 1575. It was such a good party, people are still talking about it! (By the way, Robert Dudley was the brother of Lady Jane Grey‘s unfortunate husband, Guilford.)
  • It’s the setting for Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Kenilworth, which is about Elizabeth, Robert and Robert’s wife, Amy.

Of course, the only woman mentioned in any of the signs and guidebooks we saw was Elizabeth. God forbid we admit that Matilda and Katherine existed! That might be dangerously interesting to people.

Close-up at Kenilworth

Anyway, parts of the castle were destroyed by those humorless anti-royalists during the civil war of the 1600s, and it was all downhill from there for most of the Kenilworth buildings.

The giant windows in John of Gaunt’s Great Hall

Fortunately, the gatehouse that Robert Dudley built survived, and various families lived in it over the years — as recently as the 1930s.

The gatehouse

I think history is really my niche, don’t you?

My niche.

I was going to molest one of the flowers in front of the gatehouse, but someone beat me to it.

“Buzz off!”

After Kenilworth, we went to the nearby city of Coventry to see the amazing cathedrals. The original cathedral, built in the 1300s, was in use until World War II, when the German bombing destroyed nearly all of it. The ruins were kept intact and a new cathedral was built immediately next door. It’s a very moving experience to see them next to each other. And we were right on time for about an hour of bell-ringing. We could see the bell ringers at work in the tower of the old cathedral. They looked like they were getting quite a workout.

I wish I had time to visit Warwick Castle (once owned by Robert Dudley’s brother) and Lincoln, but it’s on to Warsaw today. Alas! I will have to come back soon.

You might also like
Throwback Thursday: Celine Dion's Oscar Tux
Fernando Does Lunch in Paris
Good Business Advice on Rue Saint-Honoré

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Excellent post-I didn’t know the history behind Kenilworth, but it all makes sense now as to why you were keen to visit! Lovely pics too! Wow, you certainly got around during your stay-you put us to shame with what you’ve seen and what you know here in England-haha!! It was a real pleasure to see you this trip and heres to more visits in the future-happy and safe travelling, Wendy!!

  3. It looks lovely. It is nice it wasn’t raining. You have been lucky with the weather!

  4. that looks like a great day out! you should definately visit warwick castle sometime though!

  5. you’re the best! keep the holiday posts coming! I am working 24/7 and dreaming of travelling far, far from where I am 😉

  8. Dear, what a great visit! I have always loved the history part behind the Kenilworth. It gives much more mysterious feelings than other castles. It was such a pleasure to meet your husband and you this time! Hope you have a safe journey home! See you soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  10. now I want to read Kenilworth. maybe you and mr. b can move into the gatehouse?

  13. yay history! I am also fond of molesting flowers. It is irritating the guidebooks didn’t include that part of the history.

  14. You did not miss anything but beautiful countryside at Warwick. It was very “Disneyfied” when I was there. They even had plastic statues of people to show “what life was really like” and they played this horrendous soundtrack in the background that every so often yelled out, “The Kingmaker.” Very Las Vegas.

    Enjoy Poland – for the history and the the jewelry marts (great amber!).

    Leah

  15. haha you’re so funny wendy. “god forbid its dangerously interesting to people” and the “niche” hehe, looks fun!

  16. I like the shoes you’re wearing in your “niche”. I admire you for wearing heels to sight-see; I can’t do that.

  17. Enjoy Warsawa. Every time you eat some sort of salted pork product, laugh and think about vegetarians visiting the place.

  19. It’s amazing to think of all the people lost to the shadows of history. That was a little more misty eyed than I had in my head, but there it is.

  20. Dangerously interesting women are a threat to historians. They would overshadow all the over-discussed men.

  21. I love you in your niche! I never thought of it before, but you really do belong in a castle.

  22. my favorite photo is the one of you in the doorway, you fit perfectly and as always, look so pretty!

  24. You’ll have to come back and do Warwick castle, I don’t live too far from it and it’s a beauty, though pricey to visit!

  27. How romantic! It looks like a great place to wear a corset and get ravished by Fabio.

  28. Wow, so pretty. I want to go back to London now. This will be such a great place for a romantic vacation.

  29. Wow, your visit looks absolutely amazing! I would love to venture there. Old enlish history is so neat. Makes me have so much inspiration!
    ps. I thought we had linked up by now, but we have not! Would you like to?

  30. I’ll be the first one to hop the plane with you and visit!

    What a great post, and what perfect photos.

    History is indeed your niche!

  31. SMILED ear to ear at your niche picture. PERFECTION!

    Your trip is an English major’s dream. Love castles. Can die happy if I ever own a home with a turret. working on it…

  34. Sounds great and your pictures are lovely. I have had my fill of international travel this summer (took the train to Toronto last week) so I will have to make due with re-runs of Treasures of the Trust on BBC America.
    Cheerio!

  35. Sounds great and your pictures are lovely. I have had my fill of international travel this summer (took the train to Toronto last week) so I will have to make due with re-runs of Treasures of the Trust on BBC America.
    Cheerio!

  36. I am so proud that you got to spend time at Kenilworth and Coventry, WendyB. Love the photos that you have along with the text, too. That must have been some big gate to go along with that gatehouse!

  37. I am so incredibly jealous! I would love to visit there!

    BTW you look as lovely as always!

  38. I studied this castle in one of my architecture classes and it truly does have a fascinating history to it. Wonderful photos 🙂

  39. you seem to be quite keen on british history….lovely!!! I’m a keen expert on King Henry Viii and his 6 wives…..their stories are sooooo interesting.