Windsor is home to the castle William the Conqueror began by 1070, the longest-occupied palace in Europe. The town has seen sieges, royal weddings, a Civil War headquarters, the start of an Olympic marathon and a major fire in 1992.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
Before 1066
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People here before the castle
Nobody knows much about Windsor's earliest history. But old English field names nearby, written down in the Middle Ages, show that a large community lived here for a long time before 1066.
From the records: “The early history of the site is unknown, although Old English field names in its vicinity that survived to be documented in the medieval period, confirm that a substantial community existed on this site for a considerable time before 1066.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1070
Still here today
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William the Conqueror's castle
By 1070, William the Conqueror had a wooden motte-and-bailey castle built here, on a good defensive spot above the River Thames. It was slowly rebuilt in stone. Monarchs have used it since the time of Henry I, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe.
From the records: “By 1070, recognising the strategic importance of the site, William the Conqueror had a timber motte-and-bailey castle constructed.”
1110
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The first king to live here
Henry I was the first king to live at Windsor Castle. He celebrated Whitsun there in 1110, and married Adela, the daughter of Godfrey of Louvain, at the castle in 1121.
From the records: “The first king to use Windsor Castle as a residence was Henry I, who celebrated Whitsuntide at the castle in 1110 during a period of heightened insecurity.”
1215
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Sieges and Magna Carta
During a revolt by England's barons, the castle was besieged in 1214. King John used it as his base while Magna Carta was being agreed at nearby Runnymede in 1215. In 1216, barons and French troops besieged it again, but John's constable, Engelard de Cigogné, held it.
From the records: “The castle played a role during the revolt of the English barons: the castle was besieged in 1214, and John used the castle as his base during the negotiations before the sealing of Magna Carta at nearby Runnymede in 1215.”
1240
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A royal hunting park
The first park-keeper was appointed in 1129, and in 1240 King Henry III set out the borders of the park, much bigger than today's Great Park. For centuries it was the castle's private hunting ground, and it still has a deer park.
From the records: “In 1129, the first parker was appointed, and in 1240, King Henry III officially set out the borders of the 'park', a region many times larger than the current Great Park.”
1240–1263
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A palace inside the castle
After marrying Eleanor of Provence, Henry III had a luxurious palace built around a courtyard on the north side of the castle's Upper Ward, between 1240 and 1263.
From the records: “Following his marriage to Eleanor of Provence, Henry commissioned a luxurious palace in 1240–1263, based around a court along the north side of the Upper Ward.”
1277
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A town with its own rules
New Windsor's earliest known charter dates from 1277, though the town was probably run as a borough before that. A deed from 1369 mentions a guildhall, and a charter of 1439 says court cases should be heard there, in front of the mayor.
From the records: “New Windsor's earliest known charter was issued in 1277, but the evidence suggests the town was administered as a borough prior to that.”
1350
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Edward III's giant rebuild
In 1344, the king (Edward III) announced a new Order of the Round Table at the castle. Between 1350 and 1377 he spent £51,000 on the castle, more than any English medieval monarch spent on a single building. French prisoners, including King John II of France, were held there in 1357.
From the records: “In 1344 the king announced the foundation of the new Order of the Round Table at the castle.”
1354
First in England
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England's first clock of its kind
In 1354, the earliest weight-driven mechanical clock in England was put into the Round Tower for Edward III.
From the records: “The earliest weight-driven mechanical clock in England was installed for Edward III in the Round Tower in 1354.”
Late 1400s
Still here today
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St George's Chapel
Edward IV began to revive the Order of the Garter and held a lavish feast for it in 1472. St George's Chapel, the Order's spiritual home, dates from the late 1400s and early 1500s. Its wooden choir stalls carry brass plates showing the arms of the Knights of the Garter over six centuries.
From the records: “Edward began to revive the Order of the Garter, and held a particularly lavish feast in 1472.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
About 1510
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Henry VIII's tennis court
Henry VIII had the castle's main gateway rebuilt in about 1510, and a tennis court built at the bottom of the mound. In 1536, during a huge uprising in the north called the Pilgrimage of Grace, he used Windsor as a safe base. He was buried in the chapel in 1547.
From the records: “Henry had the principal castle gateway rebuilt in about 1510 and had a tennis court constructed at the base of the motte in the Upper Ward.”
1607
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A market under the town hall
A map of 1607 shows a market house where the Guildhall now stands. It was raised on wooden pillars, so the space underneath could be used as a covered corn market.
From the records: “Norden's map of 1607 shows a market house in the location of the present guildhall: the main part of it is raised on wooden pillars to allow the space beneath to be used as a covered corn market.”
1642
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The Civil War comes to Windsor
When the English Civil War broke out in 1642, Windsor Castle became the headquarters of the Earl of Essex, a Parliament general. King Charles I was later held prisoner there. After his execution in January 1649, his body was taken back to Windsor through a snowstorm and buried without ceremony under St George's Chapel.
From the records: “In 1642 the English Civil War broke out, dividing the country into the Royalist supporters of Charles, and the Parliamentarians.”
1652
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A big house in the Great Park
In 1652, the largest house in Windsor Great Park was built on land Oliver Cromwell had taken from the Crown. It's now called Cumberland Lodge, after the Duke of Cumberland lived there in the 1700s.
From the records: “In 1652 the largest house in Windsor Great Park was built on land which Oliver Cromwell had appropriated from the Crown.”
1660
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Charles II rebuilds
When the monarchy came back in 1660, Charles II had much of the castle rebuilt with the architect Hugh May, with extravagant Baroque rooms. He also planted double rows of elm trees along the whole Long Walk. A bronze statue of him on horseback was made in 1679.
From the records: “At the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles II had much of Windsor Castle rebuilt with the help of the architect Hugh May, creating a set of extravagant Baroque interiors.”
1687
Still here today
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The Guildhall is built
Work on today's Guildhall began in 1687 under Sir Thomas Fitz. The story goes that when he died in 1689, Sir Christopher Wren took over and finished it. It's still used by the council, and the town museum opened inside in 2011.
From the records: “The erection of the present guildhall was begun in 1687, under the direction of Sir Thomas Fitz (Fitch or Fiddes), but the story is that on his death in 1689, the task was taken over and completed by Sir Christopher Wren.”
1710
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A road for coaches
In 1710, Queen Anne had the path down the middle of the Long Walk's trees replaced with a road, so coaches could use it to come and go from the castle.
From the records: “In 1710 Queen Anne had the path through the centre of the trees replaced by a road so coaches could use the route to enter and leave Windsor Castle.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1753
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Early tourists and a narwhal tusk
By the 1740s, the castle was an early tourist attraction. Wealthier visitors who paid the castle keeper could go in and see curiosities such as a narwhal tusk. The first guidebooks to Windsor came out in 1753 and 1755.
From the records: “By the 1740s, Windsor Castle had become an early tourist attraction; wealthier visitors who could afford to pay the castle keeper could enter, see curiosities such as the castle's narwhal tusk, and by the 1750s buy the first guidebooks to Windsor, produced by George Bickham in 1753 and Joseph Pote in 1755.”
1788
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A king falls ill
In 1788, King George III first became ill during a dinner at Windsor Castle. He got better for a time, but from 1810 his illness lasted, and he was kept in the castle's State Apartments.
From the records: “In 1788 the king first became ill during a dinner at Windsor Castle; diagnosed as suffering from madness, he was removed for a period to the White House at Kew, where he temporarily recovered.”
1793
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Windsor's first theatre
The first Theatre Royal opened on the High Street on 12 August 1793, with a comedy by Elizabeth Inchbald. King George III and Queen Charlotte came to watch. It was only used for six weeks each summer, when Eton College was closed.
From the records: “The first Theatre Royal in Windsor was located on the High Street and opened on 12 August 1793.”
1824
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George IV's huge makeover
George IV got Parliament to give him £300,000 to restore the castle, and the architect Jeffry Wyatville started work in 1824. He made the Round Tower 30 feet taller. By the end, the castle had cost over a million pounds.
From the records: “George persuaded Parliament to vote him £300,000 for restoration (£245 million in 2008 terms).”
1829
Still here today
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The Copper Horse
In 1829, a cast statue known as the Copper Horse was put up at the south end of the Long Walk, 2.65 miles from the castle's George IV Gateway.
From the records: “The cast statue, which was erected in 1829, is at the south end of the Long Walk, 2.65 miles (4.26 km) from the George IV Gateway at Windsor Castle.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1849
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The railway arrives
Windsor station opened on 8 October 1849, when the branch line from Slough was finished. Eton College had opposed it, convinced that a railway nearby would lead the Eton boys astray.
From the records: “Windsor Station opened on 8 October 1849 on the completion of the branch line from Slough but only after considerable opposition from the leadership at Eton College, which was convinced that the proximity of a railway would lead the Eton boys astray.”
1861
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Prince Albert dies
Prince Albert died in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle in 1861. He was buried in the Royal Mausoleum at nearby Frogmore, in the Home Park.
From the records: “Prince Albert died in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle in 1861 and was buried in the Royal Mausoleum built at nearby Frogmore, within the Home Park.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1908
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An Olympic start line
The marathon at the 1908 Olympics started at Windsor Castle. In 1911, the aviator Thomas Sopwith landed a plane at the castle for the first time. At the 1948 Olympics, the Great Park hosted the road cycling.
From the records: “The marathon was run from Windsor Castle at the 1908 Olympics, and in 1911 the pioneering aviator Thomas Sopwith landed an aircraft at the castle for the first time.”
1917
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The royal family becomes 'Windsor'
During the First World War, anti-German feeling led the king to change the name of the royal family from the German House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor, in 1917.
From the records: “Meanwhile, during the First World War, anti-German feeling led the king to change the name of his dynasty from the German House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor in 1917.”
1940
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Keeping treasures safe
In the Second World War, the most important artworks were taken away and the chandeliers were lowered to the floor in case of bombs. In 1940, rare heavy water rescued from France was stored in the castle basement, next to the Crown Jewels. Much of the deer park was ploughed up to grow food.
From the records: “There was significant concern that the castle might be damaged or destroyed during the war; the more important art works were removed from the castle for safe-keeping, the valuable chandeliers were lowered to the floor in case of bomb damage, and a sequence of paintings by John Piper were commissioned from 1942 to 1944 to record the castle's appearance.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1957
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A world Guide camp
From 19 January to 2 February 1957, Windsor Great Park was one of four places in the world to host a Guides World Camp, marking 100 years since the birth of Lord Baden-Powell.
From the records: “At the 15th World Conference of WAGGGS it was decided to mark the centenary of the birth of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Guiding, by holding a World Camp with four locations — Doe Lake, Ontario, Canada; Quezon City, Philippines; Lac de Conche, Switzerland; and Windsor Great Park, from 19 January to 2 February 1957.”
1970
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The bridge closes to cars
In 1970, cracks were found in Windsor Bridge's cast iron. Despite local protests, it was closed to all motor traffic.
From the records: “In 1970, cracks were discovered in some of the cast iron segments, and despite local protests, but with almost equal support, it was decided to close the bridge to all motorised traffic.”
1992
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The great castle fire
On 20 November 1992, a major fire broke out at Windsor Castle. It lasted 15 hours and caused widespread damage to the Upper Ward. The repairs were finished in 1997 and cost £37 million.
From the records: “On 20 November 1992, a major fire occurred at Windsor Castle, lasting for 15 hours and causing widespread damage to the Upper Ward.”
2012
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The town crier returns
Windsor's last town crier retired in 1892. After 120 years with nobody in the job, the council brought the town crier back in 2012.
From the records: “In 2012 the council reintroduced the role of town crier to the borough.”
2020
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HMS Bubble
Windsor Castle was Queen Elizabeth II's main home from 2011 to 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2020, she and Prince Philip sheltered there with a small staff, nicknamed 'HMS Bubble'.
From the records: “It is a popular tourist attraction, a venue for hosting state visits, and was the main residence of Elizabeth II from 2011 to 2022.”
2025
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A film set in the park
Lots of films have been made in Windsor Great Park. In 2025, a Hogsmeade Station set was built there for the Harry Potter television series.
From the records: “In 2025, a Hogsmeade Station set was built in the park for filming of the Harry Potter television series.”