Kenilworth Treasure Trail - The Golden Potato
Legend has it that the very first potato brought back from America was cooked at Kenilworth Castle and tasted by Queen Elizabeth. She thought it was so disgusting, she threw the remainder out of the window! What most people don't know is that this potato was found by a magic old wizard who turned the potato into pure gold and buried it somewhere in the town. You must follow in the footsteps of the wizard to find the buried treasure!
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is a delightful South Warwickshire town. From the earliest of times Kenilworth has been strategically important. In 1119 AD Henry I gave land to Geoffrey de Clinton to build a castle from local sandstone by an ancient ford.
From there, Kenilworth Castle became one of the most impressive castles of Elizabethan England. Today's visitors will hear of lovers' trysts, bloody battles and water pageants as they wander round these impressive Castle ruins. Visit Leicester's Gatehouse, closed since 1958 but now reopened, following a £2.5m restoration project. The gatehouse includes a major exhibition exploring the connections between Kenilworth and Elizabeth I. In 2009 be sure to visit the restored gardens at Kenilworth Castle. Visit the English Heritage website for further information.
Near the magnificent castle ruins are the Abbey Fields. Around the castle and the St Mary's Abbey ruins there are lovely walks, delightful old houses and thatched cottages in "Little Virginia", said to be named after the planting of potatoes brought here by Sir Walter Raleigh.
Kenilworth is a favourite for locals and visitors alike for its restaurants, pubs and shops. Its excellent selection of restaurants offers something different for every night of the week!
Many local events are held throughout the year. Kenilworth Carnival is one of the few still held in the area. The Kenilworth Lions Show in Abbey Fields and Kenilworth Round Table's Fireworks at the Castle are great for locals and visitors. The Boxing Day duck race in Abbey Fields is also a great opportunity to get some fresh air during the festive season.
Just a stone's throw from Kenilworth town centre is the impressive Stoneleigh Abbey, with its magnificent state rooms, mediaeval gatehouse, and regency stables, all perfectly located in beautiful landscapes. Kenilworth is also close to Stoneleigh Abbey and therefore a perfect place to stay if you are attending one of the many events held at the showground.
A Brief Introduction to Kenilworth
This video clip about Kenilworth has been produced by Alphastar who produced the Discover Warwickshire DVD. It brielfy covers Kenilworth Castle including its destruction by Oliver Cromwell, Abbey Barn, St Nicholas Church and Abbey Fields.The Discover Warwickshire DVD can be bought from the Shakespeare Country eShop.
Street Map of Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth
Order a copy of the Barnett's ‘Street Map of Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth ' from the Shakespeare Country eShop.
