Volume 28: Living in Tudor Windsor

Description

The sixteenth-century history of Windsor represents a unique and interesting exception to that of many other English towns. Although it has largely passed popular attention, from the late fifteenth-century Windsor became famous as a place of religious pilgrimage, arguably to the people of the time an importance that even eclipsed its ancient castle in significance. The tomb of Henry VI in the chapel of St George ranked as one of England’s most important shrine sites, being a place of miracle working and exceptional religious advantage. Vast  crowds of people came to the east Berkshire town in consequence, bringing wealth that was eagerly gathered by its inn-keepers, brewers, souvenir makers and courtesans. Yet from the mid-1530s, following King Henry VIII’s break from Rome and the subsequent rigorous suppression of the old religion, the town’s progress was threatened with imminent reversal.

Using the records of the sixteenth-century town, this volume traces Windsor’s reaction to this unexpected turn of events. The borough Corporation, led (and controlled) by Windsor’s businessmen, attempted  – with some success – to sustain the old religion against a tide of change, in the hope that its economic progress might be prolonged, or even reinforced, if perchance King Henry’s reforms were reversed. Yet, ironically, it was the eventual passing of the old religion that brought the town most benefit; monastic land, previously outside its
control, was added to its estate and also in the mid-sixteenth-century a town water supply, allied to the construction of a conduit used to supply Windsor castle. Although curiously overlooked by historians, this conduit and its elaborate fountain head within the castle uniquely celebrated the (Catholic) marriage of Queen Mary to Philip of Spain. A monument of this significance and expense would usually have graced the capital, but owing to Londoners’ support for Protestant reform, it became a remarkable addition to Windsor’s infrastructure