ABSTRACT
In 1944 John Harvey published ‘Sidelights on Kenilworth Castle’, an invaluable article setting out much of the documentary evidence for the medieval works at the castle. The sidelights in my paper focus more specifically on the 14th-century works of the earls and dukes of Lancaster, and the potential evidence for their buildings from the fabric. It examines the provenance and stylistic affiliations of the carved stones associated with the collegiate chapel planned by Thomas, earl of Lancaster (1298–1322), demonstrating that they are by the same masons whose best known works are in the north-east midlands, such as Hawton church (Notts.). The fine residential tower, the Water Tower, is also attributed to Thomas’ patronage. Turning to the later buildings, an evaluation of the moulding profiles of the hall and apartment ranges is used to re-examine the modern attribution of these works to John of Gaunt in the 1370s. Enough evidence of variations and inconsistencies is assembled to float the idea that substantial remains survive from the times of his predecessors, especially Henry of Grosmont (1345–60), who thus may possibly have introduced the first-floor hall.
