• • In 914 AD, Æthelflæd, the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great, ordered the construction of a Saxon burh (fortified earthen rampart) on the site to defend the region against Danish invaders.

Norman Conquest and Stone Rebuild (1068–13th Century)

• • William the Conqueror: In 1068, William the Conqueror built a wooden motte-and-bailey castle on the site to secure control over the English Midlands.
  • Henry de Beaumont: Appointed as the first Earl of Warwick, Beaumont began the family line that would hold the castle for generations.
  • Stone Transformation: During the 12th century (around 1260), the original wooden structures were systematically rebuilt and fortified in stone.

The Middle Ages and Wars of the Roses (14th–15th Century)

• • Famous Towers: The medieval fortifications expanded with the completion of Caesar’s Tower and the Dungeon in the early 14th century, followed by Guy’s Tower in 1395.
  • The “Kingmaker”: In 1449, Richard Neville, the 16th Earl of Warwick—widely known as the “Kingmaker”—took ownership and played a pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses, even imprisoning King Edward IV at the castle.

Country House and Later Years (17th Century–Present)

• The Greville Family: In 1604, King James I granted the dilapidated castle to Sir Fulke Greville, who spent a fortune transforming it into a luxurious country house.
• Modern Ownership: After centuries as a private family seat, the property was sold to the Tussauds Group in 1978 and is currently operated by Merlin Entertainments.