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‘I was never more in love with an olde howse nor never newe worke coulde be better bestowed’: The Earl of Leicester’s remodelling of Kenilworth Castle for Queen Elizabeth I

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2009

Richard K Morris
Richard K Morris*
Affiliation:
Richard K Morris, Elgin House, 36 Southbank Road, Kenilworth CV8 1LA, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Kenilworth, though a castle in name, was converted by Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, into the first great Elizabethan progress house. This article aims to provide the first thorough account and assessment of his architectural works at Kenilworth. It is based primarily on the author’s long acquaintance with the castle’s building fabric, supplemented by the opportunities afforded by the recent programme of works undertaken by English Heritage and by new documentary information. Among the discoveries are several works (previously attributed to Leicester) which can be assigned to his father, the duke of Northumberland (c 1553) and also evidence for an early phase of work for Leicester himself (c 1568–9).

His most important architectural achievement, Leicester’s Building, is shown to have been built specifically to accommodate Queen Elizabeth, and the functions of its rooms are reconstructed. Evidence is assembled to show that Leicester’s Building was erected between 1570 and 1572, in anticipation of her 1572 visit. Archaeological analysis of its standing fabric shows that it underwent considerable modification subsequently, presumably in readiness for the 1575 progress. The physical evidence for Leicester’s other architectural works at the castle is assessed, including the remodelling of the great tower and the south and east ranges of the inner court.

The reasons for Leicester’s grand scheme are considered, as well as the importance of his architecture in the period and the roles of his architects and craftsmen, particularly William Spicer. It is argued that Leicester’s Building was the prototype for the midlands ‘high house’ (of which Hardwick New Hall is the best-known exemplar) and was probably the most significant model for the eclectic, linear style which came to dominate great houses in the second half of Elizabeth’s reign.

Résumé

Kenilworth, bien qu’on l’appelle un château, fut aménagé par Robert Dudley, comte de Leicester, qui en fit la première grande demeure élisabéthaine convenant aux visites royales. Cette communication a pour but de fournir les premiers rapports et la première évaluation approfondis de ses travaux architecturaux à Kenilworth. Elle est principalement basée sur les connaissances de longue date qu’a l’auteur au sujet du gros œuvre du bâtiment, auxquelles s’ajoutent les possibilités offertes par le récent programme de travaux entrepris par English Heritage et par de nouvelles informations documentaires. Au nombre des découvertes se trouvent plusieurs ouvrages (auparavant attribués à Leicester) lesquels peuvent être attribués à son père, le duc de Northumberland (vers 1553) ainsi que des indices d’une première phase de travaux pour Leicester lui-même (vers 1568–9).

On montre que sa réalisation architecturale la plus importante, le Bâtiment de Leicester, avait été construite expressément pour héberger la reine Elisabeth, et les fonctions de ses pièces sont reconstruites. Des indices sont réunis montrant que le Bâtiment de Leicester avait été construit entre 1570 et 1572, dans l’attente de la visite de la reine en 1572. L’analyse archéologique de son gros œuvre montre qu’il avait subi d’importantes modifications par la suite, sans doute pour qu’il soit prêt pour la visite royale de 1575. Les indices matériels concernant les autres ouvrages architecturaux de Leicester au château sont évalués, entre autres le remaniement de la grande tour et les bâtiments sud et est de la cour intérieure.

Les raisons du grand plan de Leicester sont prises en considération, ainsi que l’importance de son architecture à l’époque et le rôle de ses architectes et de ses artisans, tout particulièrement William Spicer. On soutient que le Bâtiment de Leicester fut le prototype de la ‘grande maison à étages des midlands’ (dont Hardwick New Hall est l’exemple le mieux connu) et fut probablement le modèle le plus important pour le style linéaire éclectique qui vint à dominer les grandes demeures de la deuxième partie du règne d’Elisabeth.

Zusammenfassung

Kenilworth ist zwar vom Namen her eine Burg, wurde aber von Robert Dudley, Graf von Leicester in eines der ersten Durchreisequartiere der Königin Elizabeth i umgebaut. Dieser Artikel ist ein Versuch eine vollständige Darstellung und Beurteilung der architektonischen Arbeit in Kenilworth zusammenzustellen. Die Arbeit stützt sich auf die detaillierten Kenntnisse des Autors über die Baustruktur der Burg, und nützt die Gelegenheit zusätzliche Informationen aus dem kürzlich durchgeführten Forschungsprogramm von English Heritage mit einzubringen, sowie aus neuem Quellenmaterial. Aus diesen neuen Informationen kommt hervor, daß mehrere der Arbeiten die bisher Leicester zugeschrieben wurden, seinem Vater, dem Herzog von Northumberland (c 1533) zugerechnet werden können. Es gibt außerdem Beweise für eine frühe Arbeitsphase von Leicester selbst (c 1568–9).

Es wird gezeigt, daß seine wichtigste architektonische Errungenschaft, das ‘Leicester’s Building’ einzig gebaut wurde, um die Königin Elizabeth während ihrer Reise unterzubringen, und der Zweck der Räumlichkeiten wird rekonstruiert. Es werden Beweise zusammengetragen, daß das ‘Leicester’s Building’ zwischen 1570 und 1572 errichtet wurde, in Erwartung ihres Besuchs im Jahr 1572. Archäologische Analyse der Grundmauern zeigt, daß es nach der Erbauung erheblich verändert wurde, vermutlich in Vorbereitung auf die Königliche Durchreise im Jahr 1575. Die baulichen Zeugnisse Leicesters architektonischen Arbeiten an der Burg werden ausgewertet, einschließlich der Neugestaltung des großen Turmes und die Süd- und Ostflügel des Innenhofes.

Die Vision, die hinter Leicesters Entwurfs standen, werden diskutiert, als auch die Bedeutung seiner Architektur für seine Zeit, die Rollen seiner Architekten und Handwerker, vor allem William Spicer. Es wird argumentiert, das Leicester’s Building der Prototyp für den Stil des midlands ‘high house’ war (wofür Hardwick New Hall das am besten bekannte Beispiel ist) und war wahrscheinlich das wichtigste Modell des eklektischen, linear geprägten Stils, der sich in der zweiten Hälfte der Regierungszeit von Elizabeth bei anderen Herrenhäusern durchsetzte.

Type
Original Article
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 89 , September 2009 , pp. 241 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 2009

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