Kings of the castle

Wetherby Senior’s Year 10 historians have been exploring a medieval English fortress that endured a famous siege and later became an Elizabethan palace.

Last Tuesday, our pupils visited Kenilworth Castel in Warwickshire, which was founded during the Norman conquest of England and has played an important historical role since, as part of their GCSE studies on English castles over time.

Ms Mendes, from our History Department, said: “This trip was a welcome return for Wetherby Senior, as we last visited Kenilworth during the days of Mr Warner, back in 2019! Our excellent tour guide brought to life the different phases of the castle’s life, plus our boys had free time to scramble over the ruins and walk the ramparts, enjoying the same views as Queen Elizabeth I.

“Year 10 will begin their module on English castles over the next few weeks but there is no substitute for seeing the castle in situ, so this was a very informative and enjoyable day for all.”

Kenilworth Castle was the subject of the six-month-long siege in 1266 (thought to be the longest siege in Medieval English history) and formed a base for Lancastrian operations in the Wars of the Roses. It was also the scene of the removal of Edward II from the English throne, the perceived French insult to Henry V in 1414 with a gift of tennis balls (said to have prompted the campaign that led to the Battle of Agincourt), and the Earl of Leicester’s lavish 1575 reception of Elizabeth I.