11th

914

Earthen Rampart Constructed

With Danish invaders threatening, Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, orders the building of a 'burh' or an earthen rampart to protect the small hill top settlement of Warwick.

1068

William the Conquerer builds motte & bailey fort

William the Conqueror establishes a motte and bailey fort, consisting of a large earth mound with a timber stockade around both the top and base.

1088

Henry de Beaumont appointed 1st Earl of Warwick

William appointed one of his followers, Henry de Beaumont (c. 1088-1119), as Castellan or Constable. Five generations follow.

13th

1242

Title passes to John de Plessi

Thomas, the last de Beaumont Earl of Warwick, dies without an heir and the castle and estates passes to his sister Margaret, and her husband John de Plessis.

1260

Stone replaces wood

Stone replaces wood in the Castle Construction.

1263

William Maudit succeeds as Earl of Warwick

Margaret's marriage to John du Plessis is childless and the title changes hands once more, this time to her cousin William Mauduit. Unwisely Maudit sides with the King in the Barons War.

1264

Castle successfully attacked by Simon de Montfort

Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester and leader of the rebellious barons, attacks the Castle. Mauduit and his wife are held to ransom.

1268

The de Beauchamps succeed as Earls of Warwick

On his death Mauduit is succeeded by his nephew William de Beauchamp. So begins the dynasty that will last 148 years and bring Warwick Castle to the height of its fortunes.

14th

1312

Piers Gaveston tried for treason, sentenced to death

At a time of heightened political tension Guy de Beauchamp seizes Piers Gaveston, the king's lover, and brings him to Warwick Castle. He is tried for treason and sentenced to death.

1350

Caesar's Tower & Dungeon constructed

Caesar's Tower and Dungeon constructed during first half of 14th Century.

1395

Guy's Tower Completed

Guy's Tower is completed, reaching a height of 39m.

1397

Thomas de Beauchamp confesses to treachery

Thomas de Beauchamp (1370-97, 1399-1401) confesses to treachery and is exiled to the Isle of Man by Richard II. Only when Richard is usurped by Henry IV in 1399 does Thomas reclaim his inheritance.

15th

1431

Earl of Warwick supervises trial of Joan of Arc

Richard de Beauchamp supervises Joan of Arc's trial for supposed heresy, and her subsequent execution by burning in the market place at Rouen in northern France.

1445

Henry de Beauchamp becomes Duke of Warwick

Henry de Beauchamp (1439-46), had grown up as a companion to the boy King Henry VI. In 1445, the king made his childhood friend the first Duke of Warwick. But he was also the last, the title dying with him in the very next year.

1449

Richard Neville becomes Earl of Warwick

Henry's only sister marries Richard Neville. During the Wars of the Roses, Neville helps to depose both Henry VI and Edward IV, winning himself the title Kingmaker.

1450

Gatehouse and barbican are completed

1471

Richard Neville, Kingmaker, dies at Battle of Barnet

Neville is defeated and dies at the battle of Barnet, the castle and the estates are awarded by Edward IV to his own brother, George, Duke of Clarence.

1478

Clarence imprisoned and killed

The Duke of Clarence is suspected of intriguing against Edward, he is imprisoned and killed. The title of Earl of Warwick is retained by Clarence's son, Edward (1478-99). However, as the last Plantagenet (and therefore a possible rival to the Tudor king, Henry VII), he is kept in the Tower of London.

1499

Another Earl of Warwick executed for treason

Edward is executed for allegedly conspiring with the second of the two pretenders to the throne, Perkin Warbeck.

16th

1540

Further development at the Castle

Improvements include a new roof for the kitchens, reinforcement of the south front, the building of Spy Tower and an extension to the State Rooms for a royal visit.

1572

Queen visits the Castle

Queen Elizabeth I visits the Castle.

17th

1604

James I grants Castle to Fulke Greville

James I presents the now dilapidated castle to Sir Fulke Greville. (The title Earl of Warwick, however, was conferred upon Lord Rich in 1618 and it remained in his family until 1759).

1628

Greville murdered by manservant

Greville, is murdered by a discontented manservant. His ghost is said to haunt the tower in which he lodged. (See Ghost Tower).

1642

Castle withstands siege

Royalist soldiers, taken during the Civil War, were imprisoned in the Dungeon, one of them scratching a note onto the dungeon wall...

1695

King visits Castle

King William III visits Warwick Castle.

1700

Continuing development at the Castle.

18th

1750

Capability Brown landscapes Warwick Castle

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is commisioned to landscape the gardens.

1759

Castle and Earldom reunited

Francis Greville successfully petitions for the title Earl of Warwick, so reuniting the earldom and the castle once more.

1763

State dining room completed

State dining room completed by leading English craftsmen.

1786

Conservatory built

Conservatory is built by local mason, William Eborall.

19th

1858

Queen lunches at the Castle

Queen Victoria lunches at the Castle.

1871

Fire damages the Castle

Fire sweeps through the Private Apartments, damaging the Great Hall before being controlled.

1890

Countess of Warwick keeps Menagerie

The island is used to keep Japanese deer, a flock of Chinese geese, an emu, assorted racoons, an ant bear and a baby elephant. The Mill is converted to an electricity generating plant, providing electric lighting for the castle and power for an electric launch and car.

20th

1938

The 7th Earl goes to Hollywood

The 7th Greville Earl, Charles Guy, (1928-84), using the stage name of Michael Brooke, tries his hand at breaking into Hollywood films. His career peaked with a supporting role in Dawn Patrol (1938) starring Errol Flynn and David Niven.

1978

Tussaud's Group buys Warwick Castle

In November 1978, Warwick Castle is sold to The Tussaud's Group.

1982

Royal Weekend Party opens

The Royal Weekend Party attraction is opened within the Castle. The expertise of the Tussaud's Studios is used, introducing wax portraits into the Castle for the first time.

1986

The Victorian Rose Garden restored

The Victorian Rose Garden is opened by HRH The Princess of Wales in 1986 having been restored back to its original design.

1994

Kingmaker opens

The largest investment, the multi-million pound Kingmaker attraction, in the mediaeval undercroft, opens.

1996

The Queen and Prince Phillip visit the Castle

HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh are given a tour of Kingmaker during their visit to the castle in November 1996. On this visit Her Majesty also unveils a commemorative sword.

2000

Death or Glory, the Armoury attraction, opens

To mark the millennium, The Armoury is refurbished and the 'Death or Glory' attraction opens in February 2000, telling the stories of battles over the centuries, as well as hosting events including Jousting Knights and Christmas Festivals.

21st

2001

New special events include Jousting Nights and The Christmas Festival.

2002

Victorian Mill

The Castle Mill & Engine House opened following extensive renovation.

2004

Warwick Ghosts - Alive!

Nearly 400 years after his brutal murder, Sir Fulke Greville is back... Warwick Castle's famously haunted Ghost Tower gets a terrifying fear infusion with Warwick Ghosts - Alive, a spooky live action experience that quite literally brings the story of one of the Castle's most famous ghosts to life, nearly 400 years after his murder. Using a mix of live actors and atmospheric sound, visual and light effects the story of Sir Fulke Greville's tragic murder is recreated.

2005

Trebuchet

The World’s largest trebuchet arrived at Warwick Castle, measuring 18 metres high and weighing in at 22 tonnes.

Earls of Warwick

1088-1119

Henry De Newburgh

1119-1153

Roger De Newburgh

1153-1184

William De Newburgh

1184-1203

Waleran De Newburgh

1203-1229

Henry De Newburgh

1229-1242

Thomas De Newburgh

1242-1263

John Du Plessis

1263-1268

William Mauduit

1268-1298

William De Beauchamp

1298-1315

Guy De Beauchamp

1329-1369

Thomas De Beauchamp

1369-1401

Thomas De Beauchamp

1401-1439

Richard Beauchamp

1439-1446

Henry Beauchamp (also first and only Duke, 1445-1446)

1446-1449

Anne Beauchamp

1449-1471

Richard Neville (The Kingmaker)

1472-1478

George Plantagent (Duke of Clarence)

1478-1499

Edward Plantagent

1499-1547

Crown Property (1499-1509, Henry VII, 1509-47, Henry VIII)

1547-1553

John Dudley I

1553-1554

John Dudley II

1561-1590

Ambrose Dudley

1590-1604

Crown Property (1590-1603, Elizabeth I, 1603-04, James I)

1604-1628

Sir Fulke Greville (owned the castle as Baron Brooke while the Earldom was held by the Rich family. The Greville's were granted the Earldom in 1759)

1618-1619

Robert Rich I

1619-1658

Robert Rich II

1621-1628

Sir Fulke Greville

1658-1659

Robert Rich III

1659-1673

Charles Rich

1673-1675

Robert Rich IV

1675-1701

Edward Rich I

1701-1721

Edward Henry Rich

1721-1759

Edward Rich II

1759-1773

Francis Greville

1773-1816

George Greville

1816-1853

Henry Richard Greville

1853-1893

George Guy Greville

1893-1924

Francis Richard Greville

1924-1928

Leopold Guy Greville

1928-1984

Charles Guy Greville

1984-1996

David Greville

1996-

Guy Greville