Editing Warwick Castle (section)

==Corporate ownership==
[[File:Warwick leaves 8064.jpg|thumb|One of the first views of the castle for tourists entering the grounds]]
In 1967, [[Charles Greville, 7th Earl of Warwick]], transferred the castle and other estates to his son and heir, [[David Greville, 8th Earl of Warwick|Lord Brooke]],<ref>Stuart Hand, [https://www.warwick-castle.com/blog/the-line-of-succession.aspx "The line of succession"], Warwick Castle, 7 May 2017.</ref> who in 1978 sold the Castle to [[the Tussauds Group]] for £1,300,000. The castle had been in the Greville family for 374 years, and its sale caused a public confrontation between father and son.<ref name=RT>[[Robert McG. Thomas Jr.]], [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/24/world/earl-of-warwick-61-who-sold-his-castle-to-madame-tussauds.html "Earl of Warwick, 61, Who Sold His Castle to Madame Tussauds"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 24 January 1996. Retrieved 13 March 2024.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/118410.stm|title=Pearson to sell Tussauds&nbsp;– at the right price|agency=BBC News|date=23 June 1998|access-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> 

Tussauds kept the castle in use mainly as a tourist attraction, while making extensive restorations to the castle and grounds. In twelve of the apartments open to tourists after the sale, wax figures of historic people are presented. Those depicted here were guests at a weekend party in 1898 hosted by Frances, Countess of Warwick; the principal guest was the Prince of Wales, later [[Edward VII]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore/royal-weekend-party.aspx|title=Warwick Castle|website=Warwick Castle|access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Warwick wax churchill 117.jpg|thumb|One of the groups of wax figures in the castle; Lord Brooke, a young Winston Churchill, and Spencer Cavendish]]

[[File:Warwick armor display 104.jpg|thumb|Display of armour and weaponry]]
The collection of armoury on display at Warwick Castle is regarded as second only to that of the [[Tower of London]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pettifer|1995|p=263}}</ref>
In 2001, Warwick Castle was named one of Britain's "Top 10 historic houses and monuments" by the British Tourist Authority; the list included [[Tower of London]], [[Stonehenge]], and [[Edinburgh Castle]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Open tourist attractions named|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1251057.stm|agency=BBC News|date=30 March 2001|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> Warwick Castle was recognised as Britain's best castle by the ''Good Britain Guide 2003''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guide praises Shropshire attractions|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2522213.stm|agency=BBC News|date=28 November 2002|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> Around this time it was getting more than half a million visitors a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmpubacc/359/35905.htm |title=The Renegotiation of the PFI-type Deal for the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds|publisher=Parliament.co.uk|date=12 December 2001|access-date=22 June 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, England, a popular tourist destination.jpg|thumb|Ethelfleda's Mound]]

In March 2007, the Tussauds Group sold the castle to the [[Blackstone Inc.]] investment firm,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/05/AR2007030501369.html|title=Blackstone Buys Madame Tussauds Chain|first=David|last=Cho|date=6 March 2007|access-date=2 December 2017|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> and the site was then operated by [[Merlin Entertainments]], a division of that Blackstone. In July of that year, Warwick Castle was sold again to the Prestbury Group<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6902797.stm|title=Alton Towers sold in £622m deal|date=17 July 2007|access-date=2 December 2017}}</ref> but it continued to be operated by Merlin under a renewable 35-year lease.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/>

===Seasonal exhibits===
Other tourist attractions include "Falconer's Quest'" (a bird show, featuring [[bald eagle]]s, [[vulture]]s, and [[sea eagle]]s),<ref>{{cite news|title=Bird of prey given learner plate|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/4145126.stm|agency=BBC News|date=12 August 2005|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> archery displays, Jousting,"The Trebuchet Show" and "The Sword in the Stone Show". The Castle is also home to "The Castle Dungeon", a live actor experience similar to that of "London Dungeons".  Warwick Castle is the subject of many ghost stories.<ref>{{cite book|year=1988|title='Ghosts have no feelings': A collection of ghost stories centred on Warwick Castle|publisher=Barbryn|isbn=0-906160-07-3}}</ref> One such instance is that of Fulke Greville who is said to haunt the Watergate Tower despite having been murdered in Holborn. The castle's reputation for being haunted is used as a tourist attraction with events such as "Warwick Ghosts Alive", a live-action show telling the story of Fulke Greville's murder.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghosts alive at Warwick Castle|url=http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/events/ghosts_alive.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225135726/http://www.warwick-castle.co.uk/events/ghosts_alive.asp|archive-date=25 February 2009|publisher=WarwickCastle.co.uk|access-date=25 February 2009}}</ref> Musical events at the castle have included [[Carol (music)|carolling]], with performances by bands such as the [[Royal Spa Brass]].<ref>[http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local/carols_at_warwick_castle_1_1055998 "Carols at Warwick Castle"], ''Leamington Spa Courier'' (27 December 2007).</ref><ref>[http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainments/enjoy_warwick_castle_carols_on_saturday_1_1061470 "Enjoy Warwick Castle carols on Saturday"], ''Leamington Spa Courier'' (11 December 2008).</ref>

At times during Summer 2018, the castle offered its War of the Roses event with jousting and other action. On certain dates in August, Dragon Slayer evenings were scheduled, with dining, a projection light show, pyrotechnics, fire jousting and live action stunts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.warwick-castle.com/events/events-at-warwick-castle.aspx|title=Warwick Castle|website=Warwick Castle|access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref>

{{wide image|2007-08-26-09095 GreatBritain Warwick.jpg|1000px|Warwick Castle as viewed from Ethelfleda's Mound in 2007.}}

===Heritage protection===
[[File:Warwick Castle Conservatory.jpg|thumb|The conservatory in 2017]]
The castle is protected against unauthorised change as a [[scheduled monument]]<ref name=pastscape>{{PastScape|mnumber=333577|mname=Warwick Castle|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> in recognition of its status as a "nationally important" [[archaeological site]] or historic building,<ref>{{cite web|title=Scheduled Monuments|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/hpg/has/scheduledmonuments/|publisher=Historic England|access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref> and is a Grade I [[listed building]]<ref name="IoE">{{NHLE|desc=Warwick Castle|num=1364805|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> together with its boundary walls, stables, conservatory, mill and lodge.<ref name="IoE"/>

On 23 June 2006, a £20,000 stained glass window was damaged by teenage vandals and a ceremonial sword stolen, recovered soon after.<ref>{{cite news|title=Castle's ceremonial sword stolen|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/5154414.stm|agency=BBC News|date=6 July 2006|access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref>

===Warwick Castle trebuchet===
In June 2005, Warwick Castle became home to one of the world's largest working [[siege engine]]s. The [[trebuchet]] is {{convert|18|m|ft}} tall, made from over 300 pieces of oak and weighs {{convert|22|t|LT ST|1}}.<ref name="world record attempt">{{cite news|title=World record attempt for trebuchet|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65118147|agency=BBC News|date=29 March 2023|access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref> It sits on the riverbank below the castle.

The machine was built with drawings from the Danish [[living history]] museum [[Middelaldercentret]], who, in 1989, were the first to recreate a fully functioning trebuchet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.archaeology.org/online/interviews/vemming/index.html|title=Reconstructing Medieval Artillery|date=14 June 2005|publisher=Archaeological Institute of America|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> It was built in [[Wiltshire]] with expertise from the Danish museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-castle/the-mighty-trebuchet.aspx|title=The Mighty Trebuchet|publisher=warwick-castle.com|access-date=26 January 2014|archive-date=3 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103085334/http://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-castle/the-mighty-trebuchet.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/ommiddelaldercentret/blider.html|title=Blider|publisher=[[Middelaldercentret]]|access-date=26 January 2014|lang=da|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203943/http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/ommiddelaldercentret/blider.html|archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

The trebuchet takes eight men half an hour to load and release.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|title=Castle plans medieval war machine|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4586483.stm|agency=BBC News|date=27 May 2005|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> The process involves four men running in {{convert|4|m|ft}} tall [[treadwheel]]s to lift the counterweight, weighing {{convert|6|t|LT ST|1}}, into the air. It is designed to be capable of hurling projectiles of up to {{convert|150|kg|lb}} distances of up to {{convert|300|m|ft}} and as high as {{convert|25|m|ft}}.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/>

On 21 August 2006, the trebuchet claimed the record as the most powerful siege engine of its type when it sent a projectile weighing {{convert|13|kg|lb}} a distance of {{convert|249|m|ft}} at a speed of {{convert|195|km/h|mph}}, beating the previous record held by the trebuchet at Middelaldercentret in Denmark.<ref name="Coventry">{{cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/ursa-hurls-way-record-books-3123417|title=Ursa hurls its way into record books|last=Heath|first=Andrew|date=22 August 2006|newspaper=Coventry Telegraph|access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref>

On 10 April 2015 a thatched boathouse caught fire shortly after a burning cannonball was fired by the trebuchet.<ref name="BBC_32264914">{{cite news|title=Warwick Castle trebuchet fireball 'sparked boathouse blaze'|agency=[[BBC News]]|date=11 April 2015|access-date=11 April 2015|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-32264914}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph_2015-04-10">{{cite web|title=Warwick Castle cannonball show sets fire to historic boathouse|last=Harley|first=Nicola|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=10 April 2015|access-date=11 April 2015|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11529201/Warwick-Castle-cannonball-show-sets-fire-to-medieval-boathouse.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411011313/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11529201/Warwick-Castle-cannonball-show-sets-fire-to-medieval-boathouse.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2015}}</ref> It was reported that a spark from the cannonball had started the blaze<ref name="Telegraph_2015-04-10"/> although a castle spokeswoman said the cause had not yet been established.<ref name="BBC_32264914"/> Hundreds of tourists were evacuated from the castle,<ref name="Telegraph_2015-04-10"/> but the spokeswoman said they were not at any risk.<ref name="BBC_32264914"/><ref name="Telegraph_2015-04-10"/> ''The Daily Telegraph'' described the boathouse as "historic", "medieval" and dating to 1896, when the [[Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick|5th Earl]] had it built to house an electric boat.<ref name="Telegraph_2015-04-10"/>

The trebuchet was decommissioned in 2020 due to safety concerns, and was deconstructed and replaced with a comparable trebuchet in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the Mighty Trebuchet?|url=https://support.warwick-castle.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002073271-What-is-the-Mighty-Trebuchet-|website=Warwick Castle|access-date=28 November 2020|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128132752/https://support.warwick-castle.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002073271-What-is-the-Mighty-Trebuchet-|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref name="BBC_2023-03-29">{{cite news|last=Copper|first=Liz|title=New trebuchet attraction installed at Warwick Castle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65099834|access-date=28 November 2023|agency=BBC News|date=29 March 2023}}</ref>