Home Park, Windsor
Encyclopedia
The Home Park, previously known as the Little Park (and originally Lydecroft Park), is a private 655 acres (265.1 ha) Royal park, administered by the Crown Estate
. It lies on the eastern side of Windsor Castle
in the town and civil parish
of Windsor, Berkshire
.
by the high volume Albert Road (A308) to Old Windsor
. It is the private estate of the castle
and, as well as beautiful park
land, gardens and avenues of fine trees, contains much farmland (cattle
grazing and winter feed), a golf course, a bowling green (for the Royal Household Bowling Club), a cricket
field (for the Royal Household
Cricket Club), tennis courts, the playing fields of St. George's School, Adelaide Cottage (on the site of the old Keeper's Lodge) and the Frogmore Estate
, including Frogmore House
and gardens with its large lake, the Royal Mausolea
and the Royal Burial Ground
. Also attached are Shaw Farm, the Prince Consort's Home Farm and the Windsor Farm Shop.
deer) by King Edward III
in 1368 and expansion continued over many centuries. Areas of the Home Park are mentioned in Shakespeare
's Merry Wives of Windsor and show that the main road to Datchet
then ran through it. The famous Herne's Oak
stood nearby. Oliver Cromwell
trained his New Model Army
in the Park. George III
removed the deer in 1785. The modern boundaries of the Park were set by the Windsor Improvement Act in 1846 when the road to Datchet through the Park was closed and public access denied. Frogmore House and gardens alone are open on a few specific days in the spring and summer. The Windsor Horse Show and the Windsor Rose Show also take place within the Park.
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
. It lies on the eastern side of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
in the town and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
.
Features
The Home Park is divided from the main Windsor Great ParkWindsor Great Park
Windsor Great Park is a large deer park of , to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. The park was, for many centuries, the private hunting ground of Windsor Castle and dates primarily from the mid-13th century...
by the high volume Albert Road (A308) to Old Windsor
Old Windsor
Old Windsor is a large village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-Location:...
. It is the private estate of the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
and, as well as beautiful park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
land, gardens and avenues of fine trees, contains much farmland (cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
grazing and winter feed), a golf course, a bowling green (for the Royal Household Bowling Club), a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
field (for the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
Cricket Club), tennis courts, the playing fields of St. George's School, Adelaide Cottage (on the site of the old Keeper's Lodge) and the Frogmore Estate
Frogmore
The Frogmore Estate or Gardens comprise of private gardens within the grounds of the Home Park, adjoining Windsor Castle, in the English county of Berkshire. The name derives from the preponderance of frogs which have always lived in this low-lying and marshy area.It is the location of Frogmore...
, including Frogmore House
Frogmore House
Frogmore House is a 17th-century country house standing at the centre of the Frogmore Estate, amongst beautiful gardens, about a half a mile south of Windsor Castle in the Home Park at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is a Grade I listed building.-Early tenants:The original house on...
and gardens with its large lake, the Royal Mausolea
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
and the Royal Burial Ground
Royal Burial Ground
The Royal Burial Ground is a cemetery used by the British Royal Family. It surrounds the Royal Mausoleum on the Frogmore Estate in the Home Park at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It was consecrated on 23 October 1928....
. Also attached are Shaw Farm, the Prince Consort's Home Farm and the Windsor Farm Shop.
History
Originally in the manor of Orton and not a Royal possession, part of the area was first emparked (for deer huntingDeer hunting
Deer hunting is survival hunting or sport hunting, harvesting deer, dating back to tens of thousands of years ago. Which occurred though out Europe Asia and North America There are numerous types of deer throughout the world that are hunted.- New Zealand :...
deer) by King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
in 1368 and expansion continued over many centuries. Areas of the Home Park are mentioned in Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Merry Wives of Windsor and show that the main road to Datchet
Datchet
Datchet is an English Thameside village and civil parish situated in the unitary authority of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire. It was transferred to Berkshire from Buckinghamshire in 1974....
then ran through it. The famous Herne's Oak
Herne the Hunter
In English folklore, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire. His appearance is notable in the fact that he has antlers upon his head....
stood nearby. Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
trained his New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
in the Park. George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
removed the deer in 1785. The modern boundaries of the Park were set by the Windsor Improvement Act in 1846 when the road to Datchet through the Park was closed and public access denied. Frogmore House and gardens alone are open on a few specific days in the spring and summer. The Windsor Horse Show and the Windsor Rose Show also take place within the Park.