Warwick

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For other uses, see Warwick (disambiguation).

Map sources for Warwick at grid reference SP2865

Warwick (pronounced /ˈwɒɹɪk/) is the historic county town of Warwickshire in England and has a population of 25,434 (2001 census). The town lies upon the River Avon and is located 18 km (11 miles) south of Coventry and 4 km (2.5 miles) west of Leamington Spa.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Transport
4 Administration
5 Associations
6 Suburbs
7 Landmarks
8 Town twinning
9 External links

[edit] Overview

The town is most famous for the impressive Warwick Castle, the construction of which began in 1068, which attracts huge numbers of tourists from around the world. The town centre is also known for its historic architecture, and contains a mixture of Tudor and 17th-century buildings.

Warwick boasts a wealth of specialist independent shops, restaurants, pubs and accommodation. There is also a vibrant cultural scene with three internationally renowned annual festivals ranging from the Spoken Word, Classical and Contemporary Music to a Folk Festival. Warwick Chamber of Trade helps to promote the town for visitors and residents.

Warwick School is an independent school for boys which claims to be the third-oldest surviving school in England. The actual date of its founding is unknown, although 914 has been quoted in some cases. For some years the school honoured the fact that King Edward the Confessor (c.1004-1066) chartered it, although there is no direct evidence for this, and King Henry VIII re-founded the school in 1545. Whatever the truth of the matter, there is no doubt that there has been a grammar school in the town of Warwick since before the Norman Conquest, and its successor, the present school, has been on its current site south of the River Avon since 1879. Warwick School is part of the Warwick Schools Foundation along with The King's High School For Girls and Warwick Preparatory School. Other secondary schools in Warwick include Myton School and Aylesford school, both state run co-ed.

The University of Warwick, one of the leading universities in the UK, is somewhat confusingly named after the 'county' of Warwickshire, rather than the town, and is in fact situated several miles north on the southern outskirts of Coventry.

Warwick is also known for Warwick Racecourse, near the west gate of the medieval town which hosts several televised meets a year. Within the racecourse is a small golfcourse.

[edit] History

Lord Leycester hospital by the west gate, Warwick

According to tradition, Warwick was founded on the banks of the River Avon in the year 914 AD, when Ethelfleda, sister of Mercian king Edward the Elder built defences against Danish (Viking) invaders; these were to be the basis of Warwick Castle. The name 'Warwick' means "dwellings by the weir".

In 1016 the Danes invaded Mercia and burned down much of Warwick, including the nunnery (which stood on the site of the present day St Nicholas Church).

Mill Street in Warwick

Its fortifications led Warwick to become an important administrative centre within the Mercian kingdom. In the early 11th century Anglo-Saxon England was divided into administrative areas known as shires, and the shire administered from Warwick became known as Warwickshire. By the time of Domesday Book, Warwick was a royal borough.

In medieval times, Warwick remained under the control of various Earls of Warwick, mostly of the Beauchamp family, and became a walled town. Today the only remains of the town walls are the east and west gatehouses. The Eastern gatehouse now serves as part of the King's High School, a sister institution to Warwick School. Warwick was not incorporated as a town until 1545.

The Eastgate, Warwick

During the English Civil War the town and castle were garrisoned for Parliament, Sir Edward Peyto withstanding a two week siege by the Royalists. Later musters from 1644 to 1646 record a garrison of up to 350 men under the command of Colonel Purefoy and Major John Bridges. (SP 28/121A-123) In 1694 a great fire destroyed much of the town, and as a result most of the buildings in the town centre are of 17th and 18th century origin, although a number of older medieval buildings survive, especially around the edges of the town centre.

The fire burnt down much of the medieval church of St Mary; both the chancel and the Beauchamp Chapel, however, survived, the latter having been built between 1443 and 1464 according to the wishes of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick (who had died in Rouen in 1439). A full size reclining copper gilt effigy of the Earl lies upon his Purbeck marble tomb - a fine piece of medieval metalwork cast in 1459.

[edit] Transport

Warwick is near the M40 motorway and the A46 trunk road. The town also has good rail links, with direct services to London, Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon provided by Chiltern Railways from Warwick Station in the town and also from Warwick Parkway, a new out-of-town station opened in 2000 a few miles from the town. The other rail operator serving Warwick is Central Trains (to Birmingham and Stratford). The Grand Union Canal and the River Avon also pass through the town.

[edit] Administration

Population growth has led to Warwick becoming joined to its larger neighbouring town Leamington Spa with which it forms a small conurbation. Both towns are now administered as part of the Warwick District, which has its headquarters in Leamington, although each retains a separate town council. Warwickshire County Council remains based in Warwick itself.

[edit] Associations

J. R. R. Tolkien seems to have been very influenced by Warwick (where he was married) and by its Mercian connections: Lynn Forest-Hill, in an article in the Times Literary Supplement (TLS 8 July 2005 pp 12-13) argues cogently that two important settlements in Tolkien's work were modelled on Warwick - Edoras closely on the early town, and Minas Tirith more remotely on the Norman; and that aspects of the plot of the The Lord of the Rings are paralleled in the romance known as Guy of Warwick.

Warwick and its historic buildings have featured in a number of television series, including the BBC's drama series Dangerfield, the period dramas Pride and Prejudice and Tom Jones and Granada Television's Molli Flanders.

Warwick has many long established sports clubs including Warwick Hockey Club which was founded in 1920 and Racing Club Warwick F.C. founded a year earlier.

Some Warwick lineage still exists in the USA, including the Warwicks in Vermont and Georgia, respectively, although they do not have genetic proof of title, nor do they care to obtain it.