Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was founded by William the Conqueror shortly after 1066 as one of a ring of fortifications around London. It has been continuously occupied as a royal residence ever since, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe.

Why it mattered

• Royal residence for nearly a millennium
• Strategic Thames-valley fortress

Architecture and the site

• Motte and bailey (original)
• Round Tower on the motte
• St George's Chapel (later)

Chronology (selected)

• 1070: William founds the castle
• 1110: Henry I establishes residence

Further reading

• Steven Brindle, "Windsor Castle" (2020)

Hub essays

• Region context: norman england conquest and governance and the shared bibliography.
• Castles and fortification: Norman castles — motte to stone.

On the map

Use Open on map to fly to this pin in the Norman expansion era. Layers are teaching overlays — pair them with charters, excavation reports, and the works above.