Just 20 miles west of London, are some of the most delightful villages and historic areas in England. The River Thames runs through this idyllic area linking Westminster with historic Hampton Court, delightful Kingston-upon-Thames, Eton and Royal Windsor.
Runnymede
One historic site on the banks of the Thames is Runnymede, where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215. Tradition has it that the barons camped in the meadow on one side of the Thames with the king’s men on the opposite side. The Great Charter, written in Latin, was signed on neutral territory between them, on Magna Carta Island. The Magna Carta became the basis of English Common Law and later the United States Constitution. A trip to this beautiful historic spot is well worthwhile, if only as a detour enroute to nearby Windsor. See the Magna Carta Memorial presented by the American Bar Association, and the nearby John F. Kennedy Memorial.
Datchet and Eton
History of a more light-hearted nature was made a little further along on the riverside road from Staines to Datchet. More commonly known as Datchet Lane, this very road was mentioned by Shakespeare in his comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor”.
Keeping to the north side of the Thames, a short detour will reward visitors with views of Eton College, one of England’s most famous “public” schools, which perversely are fee-charging private schools!
Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, who also founded King’s College Cambridge, the original buildings were the church, a school and an almshouse. Visitors can take a tour around the red-brick Tudor buildings of Eton College to see the cloisters, the oldest classroom in the college and the college chapel with its noteworthy wall paintings. There is a School Yard which is the Outer Quadrangle, the Long Chamber and the Lower School which all date back to the 15th century.
Eton College has been educating sons of rich and royal families for over six centuries. Old Etonians who are entitled to wear the navy blue tie with lighter blue diagonal stripes include 19 former Prime Ministers and more recently, HRH Princes William and Harry. The uniform of black tailcoats and pin-striped trousers is still strictly adhered to by the 1,300 boarding students.
Windsor
Older still than Eton is the pièce de resistance of any visit to this delightful area – the 12th century Windsor Castle with its landmark round tower. If the Royal Standard with its four quadrants is flying from the mast, Her Majesty the Queen is in residence. In her absence the Union Jack is flown.
The winding cobbled street in Windsor is lined with bow-fronted shops, old English pubs bedecked with flowers, tea rooms and gift shops galore. Across the street is Windsor Castle, perched high on its chalk hill. Enter through the main gateway from Castle Hill and prepare to be delighted by the Queen’s favorite home, and the oldest continually inhabited royal residence in Britain.
Large parts of the castle grounds and the State Apartments are used for entertaining royal and state visitors. The interior is lavishly decorated and filled with antiques and artworks by Rubens, Van Dyck and Michelangelo. A guided tour to see these treasures is a must. The easily identified Round Tower houses the Royal Archives but is not open to the public. Other buildings in the extensive grounds and gardens include the Albert Memorial Chapel, the Waterloo Chamber, the Banqueting Hall and St George’s Hall which has now been fully restored following the devastating fire in 1992.
St George’s Chapel is perhaps the architectural highlight of any visit. Ten monarchs are buried here and it was where Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. Occasionally the chapel is closed to visitors, but here’s a tip. Almost every day at 5.15pm the choristers attend Evensong and the public is allowed to attend free of charge. Sitting opposite the choir drinking in the historic surroundings accompanied by angelic singing will be the highlight of any visit to Royal Windsor.
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