Kenilworth Exam Specific Flashcards
(30 cards)
When was land granted for Kenilworth Castle and to whom?
1120s – Henry I gave land to Geoffrey de Clinton to build the castle.
When was the castle taken into royal control and by whom?
1174 – Taken under royal control by King Henry II.
What major military investment did King John make and when?
1210–1215 – Spent £1,100 on defensive structures including the outer curtain wall and Mortimer’s Tower.
What major event happened in 1266?
The Great Siege of Kenilworth during the baronial rebellion
When was a huge festival held at Kenilworth and what did it show?
1279 – Hosted a major festival, marking its shift to palatial use
What did John of Gaunt do in 1373–1380?
Spent large sums developing luxurious buildings like the Great Hall
When did Elizabeth I visit and how long did she stay?
1575 – 19-day visit to the castle owned by Robert Dudley
When was the castle used and by who during the Civil War?
-1642–49 – Used as a garrison by Royalists then Parliamentarians.
What happened to the castle in 1649?
Parliamentarians ordered the slighting (destruction) of parts of the castle.
Who took over the site in 1984?
The English Heritage
What was the Great Tower and who built it?
-The keep, 4.3m thick walls, built by Geoffrey de Clinton in wood, later rebuilt in stone
What is the Outer Curtain Wall and who developed it?
- A major military structure built under King John I – included towers and was partly slighted in 1649.
What was Mortimer’s Tower used for?
-Fortified entrance point for guards, with arrow loops and a portcullis gate.
What was the Great Hall and who built it?
-Built by John of Gaunt in the 1370s, used for luxury feasts and decorated impressively.
What is Leicester’s Building and who built it?
-Built by Robert Dudley for Elizabeth I, included her private bedroom and dance room
How was the site used during the Military Era (1120–1266)?
-For defence, protection of royal power, and military control (e.g., Great Siege).
How was it used during the Palatial Era (1279–1575)?
-For luxury, status, and entertainment by nobles and monarchs (e.g., Elizabeth’s visit).
What happened during the Civil War and Ruins Era (1642–1649)?
-Castle was used as a garrison, then slighted and fell into disrepair.
How has it been used in the Tourism Era (1777–today)?
-Guidebooks, novels, and English Heritage promoted the castle as a historical tourist site
Why was the site nationally important?
-Helped secure kings’ power (Henry I, Henry II, John I), played a role in the Civil War, and is one of the biggest preserved castle remains
Why was it locally important?
-Boosted the economy, shifted power from the Earl of Warwick, and made Kenilworth and Coventry more urbanised
Why was Kenilworth built where it was?
-On a sandstone hill (for visibility), -bordered by streams (for supply) -in a valley (for flooding the mere).
How did activities at the site change?
-Military (guarding, sieges) vs palatial (feasts, theatre, poetry for Elizabeth I).
What kinds of people used the site?
-Soldiers and guards (military), cooks, musicians, nobles, royals, actors (palatial
