Hastings
Diary Day 12 May 2016
I am a Hastings resident, living on the
West Hill, but staying for this week with my sister and brother-in-law in Old
Windsor.
Today we went by bus into Windsor, using
our free concessionary passes for seniors. I think it’s brilliant they can be
used everywhere! The plan was to visit Windsor Castle and also see the special
Shakespeare Exhibition there. The castle is right in the town centre and is the
oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Many of our monarchs have
lived here. It was good to see the Royal Standard flying over the Round Tower
to indicate the Queen was in residence. This was so she could enjoy the Royal
Windsor Horse Show and her 90th Birthday Celebrations, held in the
castle grounds. We had tickets for the next day and were eagerly looking
forward to seeing some famous showjumpers and then the superb spectacle of
horses from all over the world, and musical rides, at the evening event. My
ticket was a birthday and Christmas treat!
Due to the bus being late (it’s the same
everywhere!) we just missed the Changing of the Guard ceremony but stood opposite
the gate to see the band and the Guards march out at the end of it on their way
back to Victoria Barracks. This was good as the band included pipes and drums
and we had an excellent uninterrupted view.
The concessionary charge to visit the
castle was £18.20 for me. I thought this a bit steep, but it does allow
revisiting for one year. My sister and brother-in-law had free entry as
residents of the borough. I was thinking that Hastings Council could introduce
free or reduced rate entry for local people to our attractions – after all why
should we have to pay the same as tourists? I don’t think it’s good enough! The
only thing I’ve seen advertised free for locals is the Jerwood Gallery and that
only on Tuesdays between 4-8 pm, with a reduced price admission other times.
There is strict security at Windsor Castle,
the same as at airports. The buzzer went off when I went through and I had to
remove my shoes as it was caused by their buckles.
Once inside there was plenty to see and I just
mention here what were the highlights for me. I had an audio tour guide with me
to explain the most interesting facts and there was a knowledgeable guide in
each room to answer any questions. We marvelled at the exquisite Queen Mary’s
Dolls’ House – no detail was forgotten, even to the miniature volumes of classical
books in the library, and apparently everything (electricity, lifts, taps,
toilet flushes etc) really works! Next we saw two large and stunning dolls,
France and Marianne, presented by the children of France to our then princesses,
Elizabeth and Margaret, complete with their many gorgeous clothes. Then on to
the State Apartments, where my audio guide went wrong and had to be replaced,
and we enjoyed looking at the many fine paintings, valuable furnishings and
décor. St George’s Hall in particular was badly damaged by the horrendous fire
in 1992 but is now fully restored and often used for state banquets. There are
many coats of arms on the ceiling – some blank where the owners had
transgressed in some way and they had been withdrawn.
The Shakespeare Exhibition was to commemorate
the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. I was particularly
struck by a copy of The Merry Wives of
Windsor with a beautifully embroidered image of the castle, surrounded by
oak leaves, acorns and banners on the red damask cover. Of course it was in a
glass case to protect it! This is the only play Shakespeare wrote that was set
in England. Romeo and Juliet were
depicted in a drawing by Queen Victoria when she was 15, and a watercolour by
her first daughter, also Victoria, for her father’s birthday.
St George’s Chapel was extremely
interesting and we saw the tombs of King George VI and the Queen Mother. There
was also a slab to mark the final resting place of King Henry VIII and one of
his wives, Jane Seymour, although I was annoyed to see many people walking over
it without reading the inscription. I had no idea he was buried here.
After the castle we had lunch in Windsor at
a Wetherspoons, where I had chicken wraps and a deliciously more-ish dessert!
Then we wandered around and my brother-in-law walked home while my sister and I
waited, and waited, for a bus. They have a system whereby the due times are
displayed (like we are supposed to be having in Hastings & St Leonards) but
when we got to about four minutes the display reset as it seemed the bus didn’t
run. So I was not impressed!
There wasn’t enough time to do everything
and I’d like to go again to visit the places we had to miss.
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