Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI to provide free education to 70 poor boys who would then go on to King's College, Cambridge, which he founded 1441. Edward IV stopped this 'free rubbish' in 1461 and now the fees are around A$70,000/year. (Bargain, eh?)
We went for a walk around the town and as the boys were back at school, soon found ourselves in a sea of black tails. The buildings have a mix of architecture. We wandered back to town via the playing fields of Eton!
Maralyn left us to our own devices to wander around Windsor Castle - what a memorable experience! The buildings, furniture, art work, silver and gold ware, armoury and history were both stunning and humbling. It needs to be seen to be believed and our descriptions could not do it justice.
In George's Chapel (above) lie the remains of kings and queens - Edward IV 1483, Henry VIII 1547, Charles I 1649, George V 1936 and the Queen Mary, GeorgeVI 1952 and the Queen Mother 2002.
This old painting on the wall of the Albert Memorial Chapel dates from 1240 and is believed to be a portrait of King Henry III. Amazing!
The Long Walk gives you a view to Windsor Great Park in one direction and the George IV Gates and Castle in the other direction. The park has a herd of about 500 red deer, which are descendants of the original herd introduced in 1979.
British icons - Red phone box, an old well, red stamp machine, red ER mail box (installed during the reign of Elizabeth II) and a blue GR mail box (from during the reign of George V).
During our travels we've seen 2 VR mail boxes. Yes, these are from the time of Queen Victoria and are still in use. The smiling icon in the photo is Australian!
The famous statue of Queen Victoria outside Windsor Castle.(Below)
How's this for a skinny, leaning building? But, given its age, it's not doing too badly.
Seen Today:
Queen's Grenadier Guard with the famous bearskin hat;
Painting of The Last Supper in St John the Baptist church painted around the mid 1600s; a grave headstone dated 1334.
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