Windsor Park CHAPTER XIX WINDSOR Harrison Ainsworth's Novel Herne's Oak Charles Dickens' Ridicule Russell Shakespeare Repudiated The Serenaders. Early the following morning glorious Windsor burst full upon our delighted vision as we passed under the Great Western Railway Bridge; the royal borough, in Berkshire, on our right; Eton, in Buckinghamshire, on our left. Windsor Windsor is a small town of about fifteen thousand inhabitants, of an importance absurdly disproportionate to its size. It is literally packed with historical associations of absorbing interest; and dominating it all there stands, on the crest of a lofty hill, the largest and incomparably the finest castle in the world-a congeries of buildings some of which date back to the time of William the Conqueror, others being the work of Henry I, and subsequent kings. In particular, George IV expended nearly £1,000,000 in additions and improvements, the whole being maintained to this day in a perfect state of repair. Windsor Castle is at once a mediæval fortress, royal pleasure house, and museum overflowing with art treasures of inestimable value, the like of which no other place in the world can show. Moreover, it commands superb views of the river and surrounding country, and stands in a beautiful park of great extent, in which is a noble avenue of trees, two miles and three quarters long, planted in 1680, and known as the Long Walk. The name of Windsor is supIts Name posed to be derived from Windlesora, the Saxon equivalent for winding shore, which very accurately denotes its configuration. The whole of the site upon which the town stands was given to the monastery at Westminster by Edward the Confessor; but later its beautiful situation exciting the cupidity of William the Conqueror, that monarch prevailed upon the monks to exchange if for other land in Essex, a very sinister deal, immensely advantageous to the King, resembling an exchange of ten square miles of Texan desert for one square mile of Manhattan Island. The view of Windsor from the The View river is very picturesque, the town occupying the side of a hill, surmounted by the huge castle visible from every point. On first stepping ashore here, the traveller who is conversant with the "Merry Wives of Windsor" experiences somewhat of the feeling which comes over him when for the first time he sets foot in Stratford-upon-Avon. Who can walk through Peascod Street without conjuring up thoughts of Sir John Falstaff, Mrs. Ford, and Mrs. Quickly? Surely only a native of the place, who strangely enough takes less interest in his inheritance than the stranger from beyond the seas. We were all anxious to view the Castle, and at once made inquiries as to how this might be done. Full facilities are afforded for visitors to do SO. During the absence of the court anybody may view the state apartments of the Castle on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Admittance is by ticket, which may be obtained without charge at the Lord Chamberlain's office in the Castle yard. Fortunately, at the time of our visit King Edward was away yachting, but it was Saturday, so we had three days before us in which to explore Windsor town and Windsor Park (generally called the Home Park); a very appropriate preliminary to a visit to the Castle, and in no way regrettable. Windsor For so small a town Windsor has several good streets, the best shops being quite modern in equipment and method. The chief entrance to the Castle is in Castle Hill, close by High Street. In High Street is the town hall, concerning which a curious story is told. It is the work of Sir Christopher Wren, architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, in London. After the town hall was built, the Corporation of Windsor were not satisfied as to the strength of the floor, and desired Sir Christopher to support it by stone pillars. The architect protested that this was unnecessary; but the city fathers insisting upon it, Wren added the pillars as he was ordered to do, but so arranged them that the capitals do not touch the beams. As there has never been any accident with the floor which was supposed to be insufficiently supported, the result is a triumph for Wren's judgment. The town hall is worth a visit, if only for the numerous portraits which adorn its walls. |