Warwick

Warwick (/ˈwɒɹɪk/^ⓘ) is an English city, capital of the county of Warwickshire, in the United Kingdom. It is located on the banks of the River Avon and has a population of 25,434, according to the 2001 census.

General

It is located 18 km south of Coventry and 4 km west of Leamington Spa. The highlight of the city is the impressive Warwick Castle. The construction of this castle began in the year 1068 and it is a point of interest for attracting countless tourists from all over the world. The city center is also known for its historic architecture and contains a mix of Tudor style and 17th century buildings.

Warwick School is an independent institution for the education of boys and is famous for being the third oldest surviving institution in England. The date of founding of this school is unknown, however there is some certainty that it could exist around the year 914. Some years ago the school had the honor of offering King Edward the Confessor (c. 1004-1066) a coronation within its walls, although there is no direct evidence of this, although Henry VIII refounded the school in 1545. Be that as it may., there is no doubt that it was a grammar school in the town of Warwick since the Norman Conquest, and the school was located where it is now, south of the River Avon from 1879. Warwick School is part of the foundation schools of Warwick and is now There is a school for girls (Warwick Preparatory School). Other secondary schools in Warwick include Myton School and Aylesford School, both public and co-educational.

The University of Warwick is somewhat confusing in name, as it was named after it was assigned to the 'county' of Warwickshire, rather than to the city and in fact it is located several kilometers north of it, on the outskirts of Coventry.

Warwick is also known for its horse racing near the east gate which hosts many television broadcasts throughout the year.

History

According to tradition, Warwick was founded in 914 on the banks of the Avon when Ethelfleda, sister of the Mercian king Edward the Elder (Edward the Elder) was building defenses against the Viking invasion. These defenses were the basis of Warwick Castle. The name "Warwick" means "housing near the dam (weir)". The Vikings invaded Mercia in 1016 and destroyed much of Warwick, including the priory which was located where St Nicholas Church is today.

Warwick became an important town in the kingdom of Mercia for its fortifications. When William the Conqueror took the Domesday Book census around 1086, Warwick was a royal borough.

The fortifications and palisades made Warwick an important administrative center in those times. At the beginning of the 11th century Anglo-Saxon England was divided into administrative areas called shires, The shire administered for Warwick became known as Warwickshire. In those days of the Domesday Book, Warwick was a royal earldom.

In medieval times the town of Warwick remained under the control of several counties (County of Warwick), most of them belonging to the Beauchamp family, and it was during this time that it was walled. Today you can only see the eastern walls as well as the fences of some houses. The east gates today serve as part of King's High School, a religious institution attached to Warwick School. Warwick was not incorporated into the city until 1545.

In 1694 the Great Fire of Warwick took place.

Transport and access

Warwick is located close to the M40 motorway and the A46 trunk road. The city has good rail links connecting directly to London, Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon services all provided by the private companies Chiltern Railways from Warwick Station in the city and also from Warwick Parkway, a newly opened station to transport since 2000 and which is located a few kilometers from the city. The other train operator in Warwick is Central Trains (to Birmingham and Stratford). The Grand Union Canal and the River Avon pass through the city.

Places of interest

• Warwick Castle
• Lord Leycester Hospital
• Lord Leycester hotel
• The Warwickshire Museum
• Collegiate Church of St Mary

Twinning cities

• Warwick, United States
• Saumur (France)
• Verden, Germany

Notable people