Dates in Local History The table below shows some significant dates in the history of Kenilworth and its district, from just before its first mention in the Domesday Book, up to the demolition of the castle. The column at the right shows the various kings of England through this period of history. 1043 Godiva founds Benedictine monastery at Coventry William I 1066-1087 1086 Domesday Survey William II 1087-1100 Henry I 1100-1135 1129 Kenilworth Castle founded Stephen 1135-1154 Henry II 1154-1189 1160 building of moated farms begins 1154 Stoneleigh Abbey founded Richard I 1189-1199 John 1199-1216 1204-1215 King John visits 5 times John builds new towers and wall Henry III 1216-1272 1244 Henry III gives lifetime lease on the Castle to Simon de Montfort 1266 Baron's War - siege of Kenilworth Castle by Henry III 1267 Charter granted for weekly market and annual fair Edward I 1272-1307 1279 Tournament of 100 Knights of The Round Table Edward II 1307-1327 1326 Edward II held prisoner in Castle Edward III 1327-1377 1350 end of period for building moated farms Richard II 1377-1399 Henry IV 1399-1413 Henry V 1413-1422 1414 Henry V stays at Castle Henry V constructs the Pleasaunce, a pleasure house some distance from the castle Henry VI 1422-1471 1437 Henry VI spends Christmas at Castle 1449 Henry VI moves to live at Castle 1450,1456-1457 Henry VI visits Castle Edward IV 1471-1483 Edward V 1483-1483 Richard III 1483-1485 1483, 1484 Richard III stays at Castle Henry VII 1485-1509 1487, 1488 & 1493 Henry VII spends Whitsun at Castle Henry VII moves pleasure house inside walls Henry VIII 1509-1547 1538 Dissolution of Kenilworth Priory Edward VI 1547-1553 1551 John Dudley effectively ruler of England Mary I 1553-1558 Elizabeth I 1558-1603 1563 Castle granted to Robert Dudley, son of JD 1566, 1568, 1572 Visits by Elizabeth I 1575 Spectacular pageant organised for Elizabeth I 1595 Shakespeare writes A Midsummer Nights Dream James I 1603-1625 1617 Visit by James I 1624 Visit by Prince Charles Charles I 1625-1642 1642 Visited by Charles I before Edge Hill Cromwell 1642-1660 1649 Demolition of castle Charles II 1660-1685 James II 1685-1688