Serenissimo Principi
Georgia Principi Daniæ,
Heroi omni sæculo venerando,
Christophorus Wren, Arm.
Posuit. MDCCXIII.
In the area, underneath the town hall the market is kept every Saturday and is plentifully supplied with corn, meat, fish, and all other provisions.
Besides the castle, the chief ornament of the place; many gentlemen of fortune and family constantly reside in the town and its neighbourhood. The Duke of St. Albans has a handsome large house on the east part of the town, with pleasant gardens that extend to the park: and at the south side of the town is Sir Edward Walpole’s house, a neat regular edifice with large gardens beautifully laid out and designed; where Marshal Bellisle resided for some time while a prisoner in England, during the last war.
Windsor Castle, the most delightful palace of our Sovereigns, was first built by William the Conqueror soon after his being established on the throne of this kingdom, on account of its pleasant and healthful situation, and as a place of security; it was greatly improved by Henry I. who added many additional buildings, and surrounded the whole with a strong wall. Our succeeding Monarchs resided in the same castle, till King Edward III. caused the ancient building to be taken down; erected the present stately castle, and St. George’s chapel; inclosed the whole with a strong wall or rampart of stone, and instituted the most noble order of the garter.
S. Wale del. B. Green sculp.
Windsor Castle.
It may be proper to observe, that William of Wickham, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, was principally employed by Edward III. in building this castle, and when he had finished it, he caused this doubtful sentence to be cut on one of the towers:
This made Wickham.
which being reported to the King, as if that prelate had assumed to himself the honour of building this castle, that Bishop would probably have fallen under his Majesty’s displeasure, had he not readily assured his royal master, that he meant it only as an acknowledgment, that this building had made him great in the favour of his Prince; and had occasioned his being raised to his present high station.
Great additions were in succeeding times made to the castle, by several of our Monarchs, particularly by Edward IV. Henry VII. Henry VIII. Elizabeth, and Charles II. This last Prince soon after the restoration, entirely repaired the castle, and though it had suffered greatly by plunder and rapine, in the preceding times of national disorder, he restored it to its ancient splendor. As that Prince usually kept his court there during the summer season, he spared no expence in rendering it worthy the royal residence; he entirely changed the face of the upper court; he enlarged the windows and made them regular, richly furnished the royal apartments, and had them decorated with large and beautiful paintings, and erected a large magazine of arms.