Warwick Castle was recently featured in a series of ten 30-minute TV programs, televised on Channel 4, under the title Great Estates.
The programs showed a few of the many people who work behind the scenes and who are involved in the running of the castle, and the activities that take place there.
We saw some of the preparations for the jousting tournament. The "Head of Interpretation" for the Castle explained how, in addition to providing entertainment, the Castle tries to ensure authenticity in the presentation of its tournaments.
The owner of The Devil's Horsemen, Gerard Naprous, told us a little about his team.
This particular movement is intended to give the rider a high viewpoint over the battlefield.
Kevin Hicks is Warwick Castle's resident bowman and archery expert.
Here Kevin explains how different types of wall opening are suitable for different types of bows - either crossbows or longbows.
He is firing across the river Avon, at a target of a man's head on the opposite bank. Kevin executes precision firing at the rate of 12 arrows a minute.
For the purposes of the TV program, Kevin is doing an experiment to see if his arrows can penetrate high quality armour.
The arrows only succeed in denting the armour, but Kevin does shoot an arrow at long range through the eye-slit of a helmet (on camera).
Here we see a local blacksmith about to make a badge for a costume. The badge will be in the form of the Castle's crest, a Bear and Ragged Staff.
The blacksmith is also one of a 2-man team who provide a daily fighting display.
They don't see any TV or newspapers, and their only contact with the "outside world" is through the visitors who mingle with them during the day.
Here we see the staple dish of pottage (mixed vegatables) being prepared, with the luxury of roast chicken. (More similar scenes on my main page).
The castle towers are not just vantage and defense points.
Each of the floors in the tower is a self-contained living appartment.
These tiles have heraldic patterns on them. Many of these patterns are connected with the Earls of Warwick. The patterns can be used to date the tiles, and to identify the tile making center where the tiles were made.
Daisy, the 5th Countess of Warwick, was good looking and very attractive.
At age 16 she was sought by Queen Victoria as a wife for one of Queen Victoria's sons.
But Daisy met, and married the Earl of Warwick. Daisy is believed to have had several relationships, including one with Edward Prince of Wales.
Here Daisy's great grandaughter (far left) is showing Janet some of her family treasures, including old photographs, and autograph books.
She attempted to stand for Parliament, and the cover of this electoral pamphlet shows her portrait.
The castle's Victorian Rose Garden was opened in 1986 by Princess Diana.
Paul Barker, former curator at the castle, showed us some of his photos, showing Diana with himself, during her visit.
This lady is one of the costumed castle guides.
She portrays Mrs Hume, a former Castle Housekeeper. The castle would have had at that time even more staff than at present, and the housekeeper held a very responsible position.
(And there is a certain resemblance between this face, and the picture above).
The Warwick Vase is housed in the conservatory (more pictures on my main page).
12 of the heads are bearded men, and represent the Feast of Bacchus.
This head is a real sculpture of Emma Hart, a girl who was born in poverty, and who, through her beauty, grew to be a favourite of some of the most influential men in England, and who is immortalised here.
Wonder how they clean the outside of these windows?
One of the castle towers is named the Ghost Tower, being haunted by a former owner, Sir Fulke Greville, who was murdered by one of his servants.
A reader of the newspaper, in Australia, recognised the background as being Guys Tower at Warwick Castle.
The troops had come to England for the Coronation of Edward 7th, in 1902, and had been invited to spend the day at Warwick Castle.
We also saw some still pictures of Warwick Castle in the movies.
Warwick Castle was used as a location for The Slipper and The Rose, and The Black Rose (shown being filmed here).
Shown here are David Niven, Eroll Flynn, Basil Rathborne, and the Earl himself, from the film Dawn Patrol.
Lawrence Olivier, Orsen Welles, Clark Gable and Vivienne Leigh were all entertained at parties at Warwick Castle. The painted wall shown in this picture formed part of a cinema, erected by the Earl on the roof of the castle.
These chefs are preparing for a present day dinner, in The State Dining Room.
Also shown at work were the Tour Guides...
These men are cleaning a 600-piece glass chandelier.
Behind the Scenes at Warwick Castle
All of the pictures on this page are from the TV program.
Jousting Tournament
He explained the historical background to the importance of Warwick as a jousting centre in the Middle Ages, and the preeminence of Richard de Beauchamp (of Warwick), who acquired renown across Europe for his prowess on the jousting field.
The jousting tournament filmed at Warwick Castle for the program was presented by The Devil's Horseman.
His son, Dan, demonstrated some dressage movements, and explained their origins in medieval warfare.
The Bowman
The castle was principally defended by sharp-shooting bowmen.
Kevin gives a display of high speed precision firing.
Kevin showed us the different types of arrow head, each suitable for different military purposes.
His arrows can easily penetrate chain mail.
The Blacksmith
Many of the castle's staff wear period costumes, which are made at the castle.
This is the mould, which will be filled with molten pewter.
Cool badge.
The blacksmith's main job is producing armour and weapons.
Reenactors
We heard from some of the reenactors. These are people who camp in the castle grounds for a few weeks during the Summer, living as far as possible an authentic medieval lifestyle.
The reenactors eat authentic food, authentically prepared.
Guys Tower
Some recent archealogical interest has focused on the floor tiles in the appartments in Guys Tower.
One of the exhibits in the Medieval Festival on the River Island is a medieval tilemaker demonstrating his craft. He shows visitors how the clay is set in wooden blocks, and then imprinted with a design, which is then infilled with a different coloured clay.
Daisy, The 5th Countess
The castle's House Operations Manager, Janet Pinn, is writing a book about Daisy.
Here is the signature of Winston Churchill.
Although she was an aristocratic heiress, Daisy had a conscience, and supported socialist (democrat) causes.
Today there are several life-size replicas of Daisy in exhibits in the castle.
Princess Diana's Visit
Mrs Hume, The Housekeeper
The lady explained how she has been fascinated by the life of this character, and how she had researched the life of Mrs Hume.
Here we see her in the Greville Family Vault, in St Mary's Church Warwick, where the original Mrs Hume lies buried.
The Warwick Vase
Head Guide, and curator, Marcus Lynch, told us about the sculptures depicted around the vase.
But one head is that of a young woman.
The Window Cleaner
The South Front of the Castle has an impressive array of windows, overlooking the Avon River.
Well, this is the abseiling window cleaner, with her rock climbing gear.
The window cleaner will be accompanied down the castle face by the Castle's intrepid Operations Manger, who will inspect the condition of the exterior masonary.
Ghost Encounters
There are many ghost stories connected with the castle.
Some of the staff, both present and former, told us some of their personal spooky encounters.
Boer War Photograph
This is a picture of some troops that was printed in an Australian newspaper, but nothing at all was known about it.
At the Castle, the complete records of the original visit, including the names of all the soldiers, were found.
The Movies
The 7th Earl was very interested in the film industry, and himself acted under the stage name Michael Brooke.
The Earl had many friends in the cinema industry.
Banquets in
The State Dining Room
The State Dining Room is available for private hire. It costs about £130 per head. Details from the Corporate Events Manager.
And Some of The Other Jobs...
Warwick Castle employs around 160 staff.
And the gardeners ...
And the specialist cleaners...
