The area now known as Windsor Great Park was a wild forest before William the Conqueror chose the site for his new fortification, Windsor Castle. The land surrounding the castle also came under his control, and the Domesday survey of 1086 records a royal land-holding of 40 acres of meadow land in Windsor, much of which was used for grazing 'swine', and another 20 acres as part of the grounds of Windsor Castle.
There are records of tournaments being held on the land during the middle ages. One, held in 1277, involved the participation of 38 knights, kitted out in splendid ornamental armour, many of whom had accompanied King Edward I on Crusades.
Over the following four hundred years, the parkland remained relatively undeveloped, though well-stocked with deer for the generations of members of the royal family who enjoyed it as a hunting ground. There are records of King Henry VII's love of the Windsor, where:
'euery after noone, when the wether ys any thing feyer, [the King] dooth ride ffurthe on hawking, or walkyth in the Parke, and cummyth not innne ageyne till yt be late in the evening.'
During the Civil War, the Castle, Park and Forest were occupied by Cromwell's troops, who made a significant dent on the deer population, killing them for food. The forest was also divided up into private land-holdings to raise money to pay off the army.
King Charles II
Following the Restoration, King Charles II declared 'that the Great Park at Windsor be resumed immediately', becoming the first Monarch to take a significant interest in the landscaping and development of the forest into a parkland.
A court newsletter from 1674 reported that:
'The King will stay much of next month at Windsor where he is now. He has given orders to make several additions and alterations to the Castle and Park, to make it more fit for his summer's residence every year, taking great delight in the situation and pleasant walks about it.'
King Charles II had discovered a love of gardens during his exile in France, and set about landscaping, planting and improving the quality of the land. One major development undertaken during his reign was the creation of one of the park's best known landmarks: the Long Walk, a great tree-lined avenue leading from Windsor Castle into the park.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne became the second champion of the parkland in the early 18th century, driven by her well-documented love of hunting, described by Dean Swift in 1711:
'She hunts in a chaise with one horse and drives furiously like Jehu and is a mighty hunter like Nimrod.'
During her reign, several 'ridings' or avenues were added, including Queen Anne's Ride, beginning at Queen Anne's Gate in the north, and moving in to Windsor Forest.
The Duke of Cumberland
The Rangership of Windsor Great Park has been held by numerous members of the Royal family, but none have been as influential as George II's younger son, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, appointed as Ranger in 1746.
The Duke introduced the new fashion for garden design to the parkland. He instigated the felling of trees, added new lakes, including the vast Virginia Water, and created new plantations and buildings, including stables and a hot house attached to his official residence in the centre of the Park, now called Cumberland Lodge. He also brought parts of Windsor Forest into the Great Park, ordering, 'that this and Windsor Great Park be laid together, for there is but a pail [sic] between them.'
The Duke had a great interest in botany and threw himself into introducing new species to the parkland, as his Secreterary Sir Everard Fawkener reported when requesting specimens from South Carolina on the Duke's behalf:
'HRH the Duke being now a little at leisure and in possession of Windsor Great Park, turns His thoughts a good deal to the Study, which has of late prevailed here not a little, of the Culture of Plants and Forest Trees, and is laying out by all the ways He can, to come at a variety of the more useful and beautiful ones, for the improvement and adorning that fine and spacious Piece of ground.'
The Duke of Cumberland was responsible for introducing pines, firs, magnolia, hickory and rhododendron to the parks, and for rendering it, 'a nursery for all kind of trees as good as any in the known world.'
The Duke was also interested in cultivating fauna, and kept a menagerie which housed buffaloes, a turtle, and 'many foreign Beasts and Birds'. Horace Walpole wrote of Cumberland's 'delicious lions and tigers' which he had seen at Windsor in 1754.
The transformation of the park by the Duke brought about another important change: the employment of hundreds of local people in the keeping and maintenance of the park. By all accounts, the Duke of Cumberland treated his staff with great kindness and generosity, and a visitor to the park following the Duke's death found that 'every domestic he was mentioned by paid ye grateful tribute of tears to his beloved memory by the account they gave, his attention to ye regularity of his menial Servants tho so numerous, was astonishing.'
The Copper Horse
Between The Duke of Cumberland's Rangership and the Victorian period, what is now probably the park's best known landmark was built: the statue of George III, commonly known as 'the Copper Horse', which stands regally at the end of the Long Walk.
George III had greatly enjoyed the pleasures of the park, and considered the Queen's Lodge at Windsor his favourite home. Known as 'Farmer George' because of his enthusiasm for agriculture, he introduced the Norfolk and Flemish farms into the park, promoting progressive farming techniques which influenced landowners across the country.
In 1820 it was announced in a local newspaper that, 'His Majesty (King George IV) has ordered a full length statue in bronze of George III to be erected on the top of Snow-hill, Windsor Park, with his hand pointing towards his favourite residence, Windsor Castle.'
25 tons of old brass cannon were used for the monument and its pedestal alone was so enormous that 16 workmen were able to eat their dinner inside it. The main figure was later added and the lengthy project was finally completed in 1831.
Other legacies left by George IV included the introduction of Royal Lodge as a Royal residence during his Regency period, and the development of areas of the park as pleasure grounds, including the building of the 'Cascade', or waterfall, and the 'Fishing Temple' at Virginia Water.
Prince Albert
The park found a new champion in the shape of Prince Albert later in the 1800s until his death in 1861. He became Ranger in 1840, and was anxious to be involved in the practical business of running the land, with a particular interest in farming and agriculture. He applied the most up to date technology and farming techniques to his farms and introduced exotic breeds, such as Cashmere goats and Zebu cattle from India.
The Prince Consort also took a great interest in the welfare of the labourers in the park, and in 1850 he established the Windsor Royal Association for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Class. The Royal School was established in 1845 for labourers' children and the Windsor Park Rifle Volunteers was set up in 1859 for local labourers to 'shoot for prizes'. The shoots were reportedly a success, 'encouraging good feelings between different classes in the Park'.
The late Victorian period at Windsor was characterised by the great series of military Reviews which were held in the park, showcasing the strength of the British Armed Forces. Reviews involving up to 25,000 volunteers took place in front of Heads of State including Emperor Napoleon III and the Shah of Persia.
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A diagram of an oak grove planted by King George VI and Commonwealth Representatives near Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park to commemorate the Coronation in 1937 |
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Windsor Great Park in the 20th Century
The most significant changes of the 20th century took place during the years of World War Two. All land which could be used for farming was given over to growing crops or grazing cattle. Smith's Lawn was used as a base for the US airforce, as a Tiger Moth Training Camp and an aircraft factory. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret also cultivated some land in the park as part of the 'dig for victory' campaign that called for every man and woman in Britain to keep an allotment.
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The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret work on their allotment in Windsor Great Park as part of Britain's 'dig for victory' campaign |
| > View large picture in new window | | Windsor Great Park today
Today, Windsor Great Park is owned and run by the Crown Estate in consultation with HM The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh who became Ranger shortly after The Queen's accession in 1952.
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Princess Anne, Prince Charles and a corgi accompany The Queen to watch The Duke of Edinburgh play polo on Smiths Lawn in Windsor Great Park in 1956 |
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Speaking about His Royal Highness's role, the current Deputy Ranger, Philip Everett, described His Royal Highness's enthusiasm for the running of the parkland:
'The Duke of Edinburgh certainly takes his role as Ranger very seriously and, as and when he has time, we keep himup to date on any issues involving the Estate. Any fundamental changes to the Park often result in discussion with the Duke about the effect they might have on the Estate.'
The Duke of Edinburgh makes regular use of Windsor Great Park, and can often be seen driving his horses around the land, following generations of Royals who have enjoyed it as a setting for hunting and riding. Speaking of his role as Ranger, His Royal Highness emphasised the need to preserve and develop the land for future generations:
'We are enjoying the gardens and avenues and amenities planted by previous generations and it is because I feel myself to be a temporary custodian that I am planting for future generations ... I can only say that I find the urge to improve and develop the Estates is as strong in me as in any of my predecessors.'
The Queen leases several working farms from The Crown Estate , and the Windsor Farm Shop sells a range of their produce. In October 2003 The Queen unveiled the Jubilee Statue at the highest point of Queen Anne's Ride. The statue, in bronze, depicting Her Majesty on horseback was a gift from The Crown Estate to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.
Visiting Windsor Great Park
Pedestrians have been admitted to most areas of the park since its creation, and there is evidence of written orders or passes being granted to ladies and gentlemen of specific rank and status for them to drive around the park since the seventeenth century.
Today, it is the policy of the Crown Estate that the facilities of the Great Park should be available to as many people as possible, for a variety of activities, as long as it does not disturb the character of the park.
Horse riding and fishing is allowed by permit only and cycling, walking and even roller-blading are actively encouraged.
The preserve of Royalty for many centuries, Windsor Great Park has become a very public park, made unique by its royal history.
Much of the information in this article comes from Jane Roberts' book 'Royal Landscape: The Gardens and Parks of Windsor'
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