On Wednesday, June 30 at 7 pm, Warwick Castle is the performance venue for the travelers of Cornelia Connelly.The castle sits on a cliff overlooking a bend in the River Avon. It was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to the Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978. From 1088, the castle traditionally belonged to the Earl of Warwick, and it served as a symbol of his power. The castle was taken in 1153 by Henry of Anjou, later Henry II. It has been used to hold prisoners, including some from the Battle of Poitiers in the 14th century. Under the ownership of Richard Neville – also known as "Warwick the Kingmaker" – Warwick Castle was used in the 15th century to imprison the English king, Edward IV. Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone structural changes with additions of towers and redesigned residential buildings. Originally a wooden motte-and-bailey, it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognisable examples of 14th century military architecture. In the 17th century the grounds were turned into a garden. The castle's defences were enhanced in the 1640s to prepare the castle for action in the English Civil War. Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke, was a Parliamentarian, and Royalist forces laid siege to the castle. Warwick Castle withstood the siege and was later used to hold prisoners taken by the Parliamentarians. The Tussauds Group purchased Warwick Castle in 1978 and opened it as a tourist attraction.
While there, you will be able to take a look around the grand interiors of the castle, as well as enjoy a tour of the beautiful Victorian Rose Garden or the Peacock Garden. You can even witness the world’s largest siege machine, try armed combat with the Warwick Warriors, or learn the skills of an archer.
Visit the official website (click here) and find out more about the concert venue.
In 1863, on the 26th of May, Mother Cornelia Connelly who found the Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ) in 1846 would take a group of girls to picnic from the Holy Child school to St. Leonard's-on-Sea to the ruins of the Old Palace of Mayfield. The peacefulness of the countryside and ruins left their mark on Cornelia. Within in weeks the Duchess of Leads purchased the estate and presented it to the religious order. On the 18th of November, 1863 the first mass was said there since the mid-16th Century. They would subsequently being renovations in 1864 on the Old Palace and the ruins of the 14th century hall would be transformed into a church, this only took 14 months. The school started by teaching orphans and it was not until 1872 when the first group of girls was brought over from St. Leonard's to start their academics. It was not until 1953, when St. Leonard's-on-Sea and Mayfield school merged to be St. Leonard's Mayfield. Students remained at St Leonard's up to the age of 13 and then transferred to Mayfield to continue their education to 18. In 1975 the junior school at St Leonard's closed and Mayfield became the school it is today, educating girls from 11 to 18. The links with Holy Child, however, remain strong: three members of the Governing body are nuns and three nuns live in the school grounds, supporting the pastoral work of the Chaplaincy and boarding houses. 
