Windsor-day2
Monday morning in Windsor started bright and mainly sunny with the temperature rising to 24c later in the day. Our hotel “Sir Christopher Wren – waterside” was an interesting, sprawling old building tucked off a cobbled street under the ramparts of Windsor Castle, and steps from Eton Bridge, which leads directly to Eton College and High Street. The painted inscription dates the building as being 1676 and records that Sir C Wren apparently lived here although there does seem to be some doubt about the truth of this. Whatever its history, it was certainly an interesting location. Getting to the room was also a challenge as there were no elevators so it entailed a long straight 17 step staircase up to a landing, through a fire door then down 4 narrow steps to another landing, straight across this over one step then another 3 steps before turning right through another fire door to our room on the left, which was up another 2 steps!! All the way through there were different turnings and passages leading to other rooms. Really quite unique but fun. A great room overlooking the river and bridge. We eventually got out for river walk around 10am and headed left along the path which led past a pier with boat tours. All along the river as we walked there were many varieties of birds everywhere, which was interesting. Those I could identify included Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard Duck, Eurasian Coot, Black Headed Gull, Graylag Goose and a few others still being researched. We passed various moored boats and other pleasure boats cruising the river. After some time, we came to a full-size replica WW2 hurricane plane which was interesting. Talked to some locals walking their dogs along the way, also some boaters. Eventually arrived at a low viaduct train bridge which crossed the river. Passing under this we came to the Leisure Centre which was the end of the path. Took the wooden bridge over to Baths Island in the middle of the river for while before retracing our steps back along the riverbank. Over the bridge by the hotel took us onto Eton High Street. Explored this for a while but found it rather run down. A 2-hour walk in total. In the afternoon I went out for a walk on my own, starting off up the hill to the castle. Passing the entrance, I carried on to the Guildhall and then visited the Parsh Church of St John the Baptist built in 1822 to replace the original one. Above the west gallery is a large painting of the Last Supper, painted in 1660 and presented to the church by George III in 1788, having previously been an altarpiece in St George’s Chapel. It was installed as an altarpiece in the old church, and again in the new church, but after Teulon’s erection of a circular chancel apse in 1870, it was removed to the west wall, where it remains. The painting, which is attributed to Francis Cleyn, was restored in 2003. From here I explored the Windsor Royal shops before heading back to the river and out along this morning’s route. Passing the Leisure Centre I went under a road tunnel to the village of Clewer to visit the old church which a local had told me about. St Andrews is the oldest building in Windsor and has many old tombstones in the yard leading up to the church. Immediately inside the church, the south chapel and aisle were once the chancel and nave. They belonged to the Norman church, built during Henry I’s reign, 1100-1135. The first addition to this original building was the present nave, erected later in the 12th century. Having visited the church, I returned along the river to the hotel. In the evening we went to the nearby “Browns” pub for dinner.
Highlight of the day: Clewer church.
