Windsor's full name is 'New Windsor'. In Saxon times, there was nothing at Windsor. Nearby Old Windsor was just called 'Windsor' in those days.

Windsor means 'Winch on the Shore'. This would have been on the bank of the River Thames. It was like a crane for unloading boats.

The Saxon Kings had a big palace at Old Windsor. King Edward the Confessor often stayed there.

In Norman times, King William the Conqueror took over England. He built a castle at Windsor to control the local people. They didn't like him very much.

Windsor Castle was a favourite home of the Kings of England. They liked to hunt in the Forest and the Great Park.

A trading town soon built up at the entrance to the castle. In Medieval times, the castle was put under siege several times and the town was filled with soldiers.

The County Gaol was in the town, but all the prisoners escaped. The soldiers from the castle had a battle with them in the parish churchyard.

In Tudor times, during the Reformation of the Church, Windsor became poplar with Puritans. King Henry VIII was still a Catholic at heart. So he had them burnt alive!

The famous playwright, William Shakespeare, stayed at the (Hart &) Garter Inn in Windsor in 1597. He wrote 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' there for Queen Elizabeth I.

In Stuart times, Sir Christopher Wren built the Guild Hall in Windsor. He was a very clever architect who also built St. Paul's Cathedral in London. His father was the Dean at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

The columns underneath the Guild Hall don't reach the floor above. Sir Christopher said they weren't needed, but the townspeople didn't believe him!