The wealth of material which confronts both the writer and the artist who seeks to depict with pen and brush some of the most salient features of the county is so embarrassing that selection becomes a task of extreme difficulty. What to leave out presents itself as a most pressing problem, not easily solved; for, alas! space is not elastic; and even when the question is in a measure disposed of, it is still pregnant with regrets for the many beautiful things, historic places, scenes, and incidents which have had to be omitted for lack of space. To those who know the county only as one of England’s central shires, perhaps the book may give sufficient pleasure to induce them to visit the places described. C. H. EALING, W.5. _June 1922._ Contents CHAPTER PAGE I. WARWICKSHIRE AND ITS HISTORY FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE CLOSE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY 1 II. WARWICKSHIRE AND ITS HISTORY FROM THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY TO MODERN TIMES 24 III. FAYRE WARWICK TOWN: ITS HISTORY AND ROMANCE 43 IV. THE STORY OF WARWICK CASTLE 70 V. COVENTRY: ITS HISTORY, ROMANCE, CHURCHES, AND ANCIENT BUILDINGS 89 VI. KENILWORTH AND ITS PRIORY—THE STORY AND ROMANCE OF KENILWORTH CASTLE 125 VII. LEAMINGTON 144 VIII. THE STORY OF BIRMINGHAM 154 IX. THE STORY OF SOME ANCIENT MANOR–HOUSES—BADDESLEY CLINTON—PACKINGTON OLD HALL—MAXSTOKE CASTLE—ASTLEY CASTLE 174 X. THE STORY AND ROMANCE OF SOME SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE MANOR–HOUSES 189 XI. SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND SHAKESPEARE’S TOWN 202 XII. A GROUP OF SHAKESPEARE’S VILLAGES 240 INDEX 256 List of Illustrations 1. Warwick Castle from the Bridge _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE 2. Henley–in–Arden 4 3. Salford Priors 9 4. Coughton Court 16 5. Dunchurch 25 6. Southam 32 7. Warwick Castle 41 8. Leicester’s Hospital, Warwick 48 9. Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick 57