|
Henry VIII 500th anniversary
|
WINDSOR AND THE ROYAL BOROUGH CELEBRATES HENRY VIII ANNIVERSARY
Windsor and the Royal Borough will be marking the 500th anniversary since Henry VIII ascended to the throne at just 17 years of age with a variety of events including an exhibition and family activities at Windsor Castle; a programme of guided walks and tours plus talks, concerts and special displays and an exclusive range of anniversary china at St George’s Chapel. Windsor Castle played host to Henry VIII and his court on many occasions; he died in 1547 at the age of 55 and is buried in the Quire of St George’s Chapel at the Castle next to his third and favourite wife, Jane Seymour. Associated with British monarchy for nearly 1,000 years and one of The Queen’s three official residences, Windsor is the largest inhabited castle in the world covering some thirteen acres. The Drawings Gallery is included in a visit, which also takes in the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St George’s Chapel, (www.royalcollection.org.uk). 500th Anniversary events at Windsor Castle Open from 8 April 2009 until 18 April 2010, an exhibition in the Drawings Gallery at Windsor Castle will mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. Some of the most important and beautiful treasures to survive from the King’s reign will be brought together from the Royal Collection and the St George’s Chapel archives such as the King’s beautiful hunting sword and a badge that he wore on his hat. Through paintings, drawings, miniatures, prints, books and manuscripts, the exhibition will explore the life of a King who had a profound impact on British history and whose fascinating story continues to generate widespread interest today. Families visiting Windsor Castle during the Easter break on 8-9 and 13-18 April (11am-4pm) can join ‘The Great Henry Hunt’ and follow a trail at the monarch’s one-time home to locate a suit of armour of impressive proportions, discover the King’s burial place and find out what the castle was like in Tudor times. They will also be able to learn more about Henry VIII’s life and design a Tudor costume for the King or one of his six wives in the Moat Education Room. The art-based activities are suitable for children between 5 and 11 years of age and are run on a drop-in basis. Commemorative China and Events at St George’s Chapel St George’s Chapel was begun by Edward IV in 1475 and completed by Henry VIII in 1528. A range of commemorative anniversary china, exclusive to St George’s Chapel shop, will be available from March 2009. The designs are based on the stained glass picture of the monarch in the South Quire Aisle of the chapel; motifs from the wooden oriel window placed in the chapel by the King for his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and from his coat of arms in the vaulting above the organ loft. The china will be available from the shop in the Dean’s Cloister at the chapel exit or by mail order (www.stgeorges-windsor.org). St George’s Chapel will also be the host venue for a number of anniversary events including four being organised by the Windsor Festival. Guided Walks and Tours Guided ‘Heritage of Henry VIII’ walks are on offer from Windsor Tours on selected weekends during April, May and July departing at 2.30pm from the Information Centre in the Old Booking Hall, Windsor Royal Shopping at £6 per person (£4.50 concessions and under 14s free). For details and to pre-book call 01753 850928, www.windsor-tours.co.uk Windsor Welcome tourist guides are also planning three special public walks on Saturday 20 and 27 June and 4 July to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne. They all depart at 11am from the Royal Windsor Information Centre, are around an hour in length and priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for under 14s. To book call 01753 857885, www.windsorwalks.co.uk. The same tours can be arranged for groups. In addition, three of Windsor’s Blue Badge Tourist Guides have put togther a special walking tour for groups available between 8 April 2009 and 18 April 2010 (excluding Sundays) exploring the life, loves and legendary court of the King in Windsor entitled ‘Quincentenary Henry’. Starting in the town, visitors will hear about Henry’s hunting and hawking expeditions in Windsor Great Park, his banquets with up to 30 courses including ‘flaming swans and porpoise in armour’ and his grand processions through the town on Garter Day. They will then enter Windsor Castle to see where his royal tennis court was situated and how Henry created the North Terrace before visiting St George’s Chapel. Here stories abound such as the King’s funeral arrangements and how his coffin was so heavy that it had to be lowered into the royal vault by 16 soldiers ‘of exceptional height and strength’. The tour will finish at the Castle Drawings Gallery to view the Henry VIII exhibition. For more details and to book contact Rendezvous on Tel: 07770 933 117, www.rendezvousguides.co.uk; Spirit of England on 07984 013 532, www.spiritofengland.net or Windsor Tourist Guides on 0779 989 1578, www.windsortouristguides.co.uk More Information and Where to Stay Further details about the Royal Borough and accommodation suggestions can be found on www.windsor.gov.uk; to request a copy of the Visitor Guide call the Royal Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743900 or email Windsor.tic@rbwm.gov.uk. For those planning a short break assistance with booking somewhere to stay is available by ringing the accommodation hotline on 01753 743907 or email Windsor.accommodation@rbwm.gov.uk. |
