Bookable
An Apollonaut travel guide
Moments in a longer story.
Selected milestones in the history of Windsor Castle.
On this page
From Norman fortress to royal home
These dates describe the place you can learn about here. They are not a company timeline for Apollonaut.
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After 1066
A Norman castle
William the Conqueror builds a motte-and-bailey castle above the Thames.
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1110
A royal residence
Henry I celebrates Whitsun at Windsor, the first king to live at the castle.
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1165–1179
Walls of stone
Henry II replaces the timber keep with stone and walls the Upper Ward.
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1350–1377
Edward III rebuilds
The founder of the Order of the Garter rebuilds the castle as a palace.
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1354
A clock in the tower
The earliest weight-driven mechanical clock in England is installed in the Round Tower.
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1475
St George’s Chapel
Edward IV begins the chapel of the Order of the Garter.
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After 1660
Baroque interiors
Charles II rebuilds the state apartments with Hugh May, Antonio Verrio and Grinling Gibbons.
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1824
George IV’s castle
Jeffry Wyatville begins remodelling the castle and raising the Round Tower.
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1861
Prince Albert
Prince Albert dies at Windsor Castle.
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1917
The House of Windsor
George V takes the name Windsor for the royal house.
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1924
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
The dolls’ house designed by Edwin Lutyens is completed.
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20 November 1992
Fire
A fire destroys nine principal rooms and damages more than 100 others.
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1997
Restoration
The restoration of the fire-damaged rooms is completed.
Follow the stories behind the dates
A timeline is a beginning. The longer history introduces the people and places; the sources below provide further context.
Read at the source
Sources & further reading
Links lead to the original publishers.
