During the Anarchy, Windsor Castle — a key royal fortress on the Thames — was contested. Stephen worked to ensure that the great Thames valley castles including Windsor, Wallingford and Oxford remained either in his hands or neutralised. Windsor's position on the Thames made it a pivot of communications between London and the western theatre where Matilda's support was centred. Its control was essential for Stephen's ability to move forces westward.
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.
Research a location near Berkshire