Langton Houses' Guide to Walks In Windsor
Please note this is a “work in progress” and as such I would be grateful for any comments, suggestions or even corrections you find. It is by no means complete, if you go off track or get a little lost, you’ll no doubt see and experience even more of Windsor!
Leaving from Langton House (Don’t forget a map!)
Total Time : 2 Hours (VERY!) Approx.
Leave Langton House and turn into Claremont Road and walk towards
Trinity Church –
Built in 1842 following a proposal by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria thought
it a good idea to build a church dedicated to her troops so that they might
find God before they died, normally of ill health, as opposed to military
conflicts!
Follow the road around Trinity Church to the top and turn left
into St Leonard's Road. Follow this up the hill about 8 minutes walk towards
the Castle, all through the main shopping street , Peascod Street. At the
top of the hill you will be immediately in front of:-
Queen Victoria’s Statue –
Erected in 1887 for the Golden Jubilee to mark the 50th anniversary of her
coronation.
Turing to the right you will see on the right the Glorious Britain shop.
H.G.Wells
A memorial plaque is inside the doorway of the Glorious Britain shop. This
famous author worked here in 1880.
Continue down the High Street and on the right is the :-
Guild Hall
Completed in 1687 by Sir Christopher Wren. Note the columns in the front that
do not touch the ceiling. This was done on purpose by Sir Christopher Wren
because he was told that his original design with only the outside columns
would not be strong enough to hold the upper level. To prove a point he made
the extra columns as he was ordered to, but kept them from touching the ceiling.
The Guildhall is open to the public and is free to wander around and see the
many magnificent portraits that have been leant by the Queen for display.
The buildings around the Guildhall are mainly from the 17th Century.
Charlotte Street
Recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the shortest street in England.
Marketcross House
Was built in 1634, and has been an Antique shop, florist, butchers and a public
house, now a tea room.
On the High Street just past the Guild Hall is the
Castle Hotel
This was the original tavern and the only place where you could get accommodation
in the 14th centaury.
Continue down the High Street
St John’s Parish Church
Built in 1822 by Charles Hollis, there has been a church on this site since
the 12th century. A painting of the Last Supper was donated by George III.
Various famous locals are buried here including the odd knight! Situated outside
is a war memorial to the locals who died in WWI from 1914-1918.
Continue down the High Street and on the corner of Sheet Street and Park
Street is
Old Air Mail Post Box and Ancient Well
This commemorates the first ever air mail from Windsor to Hendon in 1911.
Follow Park Street (past the Two Brewers Pub, very good for beer and food)
towards the Long Walk
At the end of Park Street, with its elegant Georgian buildings, you pass through some very large ornate gates and walk onto the Long Walk. This provides a classic view back up to the Castle. Built by Charles II in 1670, it is 3 miles from the Castle to the Copper Horse, a statue of George III on horseback, added in 1820 by his son George IV, the designer later committed suicide when he realised that George III was riding without stirrups, which was seen at the time as a huge slur on the Royal king.
Walk down 200m and just before you turn right into Brook Street (there is
a small path leading through an open iron gateway) you can just about see
Frogmore House Mausoleum (with its distinctive green copper roof) through
the trees on your left (as you face away from the Castle), although you may
need to walk down a little further for a better view.
Situated beyond the Long Walk in the grounds of Frogmore House is the Mausoleum
where Queen Victoria and her husband Albert are buried. This is only open
a few weekends a year, but if ever the opportunity arises to visit it is well
worth while.
As you walk down Brook Street you will soon face Victoria Barracks where the Castle guards are stationed.
A detour here is to turn left into Sheet Street, at the T-junction turn right
into Frances Road, follow to the roundabout continue over and up the slight
hill, keep to the left past the Victorian King Edward VII Hospital into St
Leonards Road where you will see on the right
Coombermere Barracks
The Barracks of the Household Cavalry, the Blues and Royals. The museum is
within the barracks, just ask the guard at the gate - closing in 2006 and
may be moving to Knightsbridge, London.
From here you must backtrack turning right into St Leonards Road, right into Frances Road, down the hill, over the roundabout into Frances Road again, turn left into Sheet Street, up the hill over the traffic lights and at the top where the road turns left into the High Street or right into Park street, continue straight ahead into St Alban’s Street, follow this up the hill with the Castle on your right.
Continue up the hill a short way, take a quick peek into St Alban’s
Close to see one of Nell Gywn’s houses where she allegedly bore one
of Charles II children, and turn left into the cobbled street. On this corner
is the Masonic Hall, Theodore Randue founded a school here in 1705, turn first
right into Church Street
Nell Gywn
In Church Street is Burford House, reputedly where Charles II housed his favourite
mistress, built in 1640. A tunnel is reported to have gone from this house
inside the castle. Next door at number 7, on the outside of the building is
a copy of the warrant to execute Charles I in 1648 and a plaque to say that
William Shakespeare lived here whilst he wrote the Merry Wives Of Windsor.
Further up Church Street is the rear access for
Carpenters Arms
Used once by local craftsmen as their local tavern. The front glass window
shows pictures of the trades that frequented this pub. Inside is a cellar
which has one of the many tunnels into the Castle, now blocked up!
Follow Church Street towards the Castle.
The Castle
I will not say too much here about the Castle, as there is plenty of information
already available. A walk around the Castle will take at least 2 hours and
is extremely recommended.
Upon leaving the castle turn right down the hill at Queen Victoria’s statue turn right and follow the castle wall. Curfew Tower is the largest tower in front of you with the clock face. Its 13 foot thick walls, was an old prison. The roof was put on by Queen Victoria after a visit to the South of France where she liked the similar roofs and wanted one put on her castle.
Almost opposite is the entrance to
Windsor & Eton Central Train Station
Opened in October 1849 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s jubilee. Within
near the train platform is the old royal waiting room, now a part of the Ha!
Ha! Bar, well worth a look inside.
Continuing down the hill following the castle walls you will see on the left
The Theatre Royal
The Edwardian Theatre Royal
Further down the hill, following the castle wall to the junction of Thanes
Street and Datchet Road on the right corner is
King George V Memorial
This is the Lutyens memorial to George V, the first monarch of the House of
Windsor, being the person who adopted the name of Windsor.
Follow the road around to the right and about 100m on the left opposite the
pub is
Windsor & Eton Riverside Train Station
Opened in December 1849.
Follow the road down the side of the station towards the river. At the river
turn left and walk up towards the
Windsor Bridge
There has been a bridge on this site since the 13th centaury. The current
bridge was built by Charles Hollis and was a toll bridge until 1894.
Going over the bridge into Eton and continue along the High Street you will
pass on the right the
Cockpit, now the Tiger Gardens Restaurant
Out the back of this 500 year old oak-beamed inn is an original cockfighting
pit. Famous and well preserved, enjoyed as an illegal betting pastime by Charles
??. The floor of the pit is covered in the spinal columns of sheep. Ask the
owners for a look around, they are normally most agreeable, especially if
you’ve just spent money in the most excellent restaurant.
Continue further along the High Street you will see just past the traffic
lights
Eton College
Mainly at the top end of Eton High Street, the College was founded by Henry
VI in 1440 for 70 boys to give them free education. The College now educates
1300 boys at approx £23,000 each per year, and they own most of the
property in the area. There is a museum of Eton Life set within the main building.
During term time you will be able to see the boys and masters walking around
between lessons in their very distinctive uniforms.
The Brocas
Walking down Keats lane and South Meadow Lane and take the footpath across
the fields towards the river to Brocas Street, crossing back across the bridge
to Windsor.
Taking the right turn across the bridge, walk down beside the river towards
Alexandra gardens
Laid out in 1903 on the site of the old slum area. Time for a cup of tea in
the tea shop by the river.
For the time being this is the end of the tour. Hope you enjoyed it and found it interesting, any comments or suggestions will be most gratefully received, just email Langton House
Paul
Many of the pictures used are courtesy of Marek at PearTrees
Guest House.
