The Mill was built in 1821, and occupies the site of one dating as far back as Saxon times.
Guy of Warwick is a mythical personage, and the romance mentioning his deeds dates from the thirteenth century. In the fifteenth century, when the age of chivalry and romance was at its zenith, Guy was treated in the same manner as King Arthur, and all kinds of doughty deeds were attributed to him by the romancers.
Blacklow Hill stands half a mile farther on to the left of the road. It is surmounted by a cross, erected in 1821 to commemorate the execution in 1312 of Piers Gaveston. At Gloucester, the tomb of Edward II., who, like his favourite, came to a tragic end, has been mentioned.
KENILWORTH
The Castle is the centre of attraction, although there are some good examples of half-timbered cottages to be seen in the long street of the little town. The fortress was in ancient times one of the strongest in England, as it afforded accommodation for a large garrison, and by reason of the lake and broad moats filled with water—now disappeared—it was almost impregnable. Numerous roads converged towards it as the centre of England, and for many years it was a royal residence. The Keep was built about 1170, and is a splendid example of military architecture of the late Norman period. It is square, with a projecting rectangle, and turrets at the corners. The walls at the base are 14 feet thick. The Garden, celebrated in Scott's novel, lay upon the north side of the keep. South of the keep occur Leicester's Buildings, with fourteenth-century kitchens and other offices between. By the side of the Great Hall was the Strong Tower, called Mervyn's Tower by Scott. Mortimer's Tower is isolated to the south-east; the cutting through the great dam which restrained the waters of the lake occurred here. The tilt-yard lay upon the top of the dam. Beyond the Great Lake was the Chase, and the circuit of the castle, manor, parks and other lands, was about twenty miles. Many historical names are associated with Kenilworth—the Clintons, Simon de Montfort, John of Gaunt, and Robert Dudley, who entertained Queen Elizabeth for seventeen days, and spent a fortune in doing so. The castle was dismantled and the lake drained in the time of the Commonwealth.
FORD'S HOSPITAL, COVENTRY.
A late fifteenth century almshouse enriched with much elaborate carving.
The Church lies east of the castle. The tower and nave are of Decorated work, but a Norman doorway has been inserted in the west side of the tower, taken, probably, from the Priory.
The Priory stood close to the church; it was founded about 1122 by Geoffrey de Clinton, and richly endowed. The remains of a gatehouse may be seen, and also some exposed foundations of the walls of the church.