A Windsor Guide from c.1811

Chapter 5 - Of the Lower Ward or Court

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5 Of The Lower Ward or Court

The Lower Ward is far more spacious than the Upper, and is divided into two parts, by the Collegiate Church, or Chapel of St. George. On the north, or inner side, are the houses and apartments of the Dean and canons, minor canons, clerks, vergers, and other officers of the foundation; and on the south and west sides of the outer part of this court, are the houses of the alms, or poor knights of Windsor.

In this ward are also several towers belonging to the officers of the crown, and the order of the garter, namely, to the Bishop of Winchester, prelate; the Bishop of Salisbury, chancellor; and formerly there was a tower belonging to Garter, king at arms, but very little is now remaining, except the ruins. Here is also the store-tower, guard chamber and court of record.

The apartments in the deanery, which were considerably repaired by the late Dean Keppel, are large and commodious, and in the great passage leading to an apartment called the garter-room, are hung up the arms of the Sovereign and knights companions, of the Garter.

In this room is an ancient screen, on which are properly blazoned the arms of King Edward III, and the several sovereigns and knights companions, from the foundation to the present time.

In this room the knights meet and robe on the morning of installation, and proceed from hence to St. George's Chapel.

In the inner cloisters are the houses of the several prebendaries, and at the lower end is the library belonging to the college; the inside of which is neat, though not elegant. It is well furnished with ecclesiastical writers, and books of polite literature, and received a considerable addition from the late Earl of Ranelagh, who bequeathed his valuable library to the college. The houses command a most beautiful prospect of the River Thames, and of the adjoining counties.

Opposite the west end of the Chapel of St. George, are the houses of the minor canons, and clerks, or choristers, built in the form of a horse-shoe, in allusion to one of the badges of Henry VII or his predecessor, King Edward IV and commonly called the Horseshoe Cloisters.

Thamesweb are grateful to Master James (aged 11) for scanning and proof reading the above from the original typed text prepared by MNC to whom we are equally indebted.

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