List of owners of Warwick Castle - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle 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,...

, in Warwickshire, UK, was first constructed in 1068. Over its 950 years of history it has been owned by 36 different individuals, plus four periods as crown property under seven different monarchs. It was the family seat of three separate creations of the Earls of Warwick, and has been a family home for members of the Beaumont

House of Beaumont

The Norman family of Beaumont was one of the great baronial Anglo-Norman families which became rooted in England after the Norman conquest.Roger de Beaumont, lord of Pont-Audemer, of Beaumont-le-Roger, of Brionne and of Vatteville, was too old to fight at Hastings, staying in Normandy to govern...

, Beauchamp, Neville, Plantagenet

House of Plantagenet

The House of Plantagenet , a branch of the Angevins, was a royal house founded by Geoffrey V of Anjou, father of Henry II of England. Plantagenet kings first ruled the Kingdom of England in the 12th century. Their paternal ancestors originated in the French province of Gâtinais and gained the...

, Dudley and Greville families. The first creation of the Earldom, in 1088, specifically included the right of inheritance through the female line, so the castle three times had a woman (or girl) as the owner. Eleven of the owners were under 20 when they inherited, including a girl aged two and a boy aged three. At least three owners died in battle, two were executed and one was murdered.

Various owners have entertained royalty at the castle, under very different circumstances. Henry II

Henry II of England

Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...

tricked his way into the castle, Edward IV

Edward IV of England

Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...

was held prisoner in it. Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I of England

Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...

, William III

William III of England

William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...

and Victoria all made state visits.

Every century except the 21st has seen major building work or adaptations at the castle. For 100 years it was an earth mound and timber buildings. The next 300 years saw the building of the external walls and towers in stone. During the 210 years between 1500 and 1710 the living areas were transformed from medieval fortress rooms to a stately residence with elegant state rooms. In the 18th and 19th centuries the living areas were further adapted, the grounds were laid out and furnishings were acquired in great quantity. The 20th century saw the transition from aristocratic home to visitor attraction.

Table of owners

Table of owners of Warwick Castle and their construction activity
Period of ownership	Name (year of birth and death)	Title	Construction work	Other events
1068–1087	William the Conqueror (1028–1087)	King	Earth motte and bailey with timber stockades
1087–1088	William II William II of England William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales... (c.1056–1100)	King
1088–1119	Henry de Beaumont Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick was a Norman nobleman. Henry was the younger son of Roger de Beaumont and Adeline of Meulan, daughter of Waleran I, Count of Meulan. He was given by his father the modest lordship of Le Neubourg, in central Normandy... (de Newburgh) (c1045-1119)	1st Earl of Warwick
1119–1153	Roger de Beaumont Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick was the elder son of Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick and Marguerite, daughter of Geoffrey II of Perche and Beatrix of Montdidier... (de Newburgh) (1102–1153)	2nd Earl of Warwick		Went on Crusade. When Henry of Anjou (later Henry II Henry II of England Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the... ) invaded England, he tricked Roger's wife into surrendering the castle.
1153–1184	William de Beaumont William de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Warwick William de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Warwick was an English nobleman.He inherited the earldom from Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick. He died, probably on Crusade, in 1184, and was succeeded by his brother Waleran de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Warwick.... (de Newburgh) (1128–1184)	3rd Earl of Warwick	Rebuilding in stone began, including a house in the castle.	May have died on Crusade
1184–1203	Waleran de Beaumont Waleran de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Warwick Waleran de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Warwick was the younger son of Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick and Gundred de Warrenne, daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey and Elizabeth de Vermandois... (de Newburgh) (1153–1204)	4th Earl of Warwick		Brother of 3rd Earl
1203–1229	Henry de Beaumont Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick , Earl of Warwick, Baron of Hocknorton and Hedenton, was the son of Waleran de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Warwick and Margaret, daughter of Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford and Maud of Essex... (de Newburgh) (1192–1229)	5th Earl of Warwick	Some existing curtain wall dates to this period.
1229–1242	Thomas de Beaumont Thomas de Beaumont, 6th Earl of Warwick Thomas de Beaumont, 6th Earl of Warwick , Earl of Warwick, Baron of Hocknorton and Hedenton, was the son of Henry de Beaumont, 5th Earl of Warwick and Margaret D'Oili... (de Newburg) (1208–1242)	6th Earl of Warwick		Died without children, so title passed to his sister.
1242	Margaret de Newburg (Margery) (d,1253?)	7th Countess of Warwick		Sister of the 6th Earl. Although she owned the castle in her own right, it was 'taken into the king's hand as a pledge for a suitable remarriage'.
1242–1263	John Du Plessis (1210–1263)	7th Earl of Warwick		Married Margaret and was created 7th Earl. They had no children. On the Earl's death the title and castle passed to Margaret's nephew, William Mauduit, grandson of Waleran.
1263–1268	William Mauduit William Maudit, 8th Earl of Warwick William Maudit , 8th Earl of Warwick was an English nobleman and participant in the Barons' War.... (1220–1268)	8th Earl of Warwick		In 1264, in the Second Barons' War Second Barons' War The Second Barons' War was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of barons led by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward , in the name of Henry III.-Causes:... , Simon De Montfort succeeded in a surprise attack on the castle, taking the Earl and his wife hostage.
1268–1298	William de Beauchamp William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick was an English nobleman and soldier, described as a “vigorous and innovative military commander”... (1237–1298)	9th Earl of Warwick	The earliest windows facing the river date from this time.	William Mauduit's sister Isabel married William de Beauchamp, and their son, William was heir to the Earldom and castle.
1298–1315	Guy de Beauchamp Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick was an English magnate, and one of the principal opponents of King Edward II and his favourite Piers Gaveston. Guy de Beauchamp was the son of William de Beauchamp, the first Beauchamp earl of Warwick, and succeeded his father in 1298... (c. 1272 – 1315)	10th Earl of Warwick		Embroiled in the execution of Gaveston
1329–1369	Thomas de Beauchamp Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, KG was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War... (1313–1369)	11th Earl of Warwick	Thomas built Caesar's Tower and the Gatehouse Tower.	His effigy, holding his wife Katherine's Katherine Mortimer, Countess of Warwick Katherine Mortimer, Countess of Warwick was the wife of Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick KG, an English peer, and military commander during the Hundred Years War... hand, is in the chancel of St Mary's Church Warwick.
1369–1401	Thomas De Beauchamp Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, KG was an English medieval nobleman, and one of the primary opponents of Richard II.- Birth and Marriage:... (1339–1401)	12th Earl of Warwick	Built Guy's Tower (1394) and the wall to the gatehouse.	Convicted of Treason against Richard II Richard II -People:Richard II of England , King of England.Richard II of Normandy , Duke of NormandyRichard II of Aquila Richard II of Capua A nickname for Richard M... and pardoned by Henry IV Henry IV Henry IV may refer to: Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor , King of The Romans and Holy Roman Emperor* Henry IV, Duke of Brabant * Henry IV Probus , Duke of Wrocław* Heinrich IV Dusemer von Arfberg Henry IV may refer to:* Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1050–1106), King of The Romans and Holy Roman... .
1401–1439	Richard de Beauchamp Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Count of Aumale, KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Early Life:... (1382–1439)	13th Earl of Warwick		Supervised the execution of Joan of Arc Joan of Arc Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the... . Endowed St Mary's Church to build the Beauchamp Chapel where his effigy takes centre stage.
1439–1446	Henry Beauchamp Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick Henry de Beauchamp, 1st Duke of Warwick was an English nobleman.He was the son of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and Isabel le Despenser... (1425–1446)	14th Earl and 1st Duke of Warwick		Died without a son aged 21, so the Dukedom expired and Earldom passed to his baby daughter, Anne.
1446–1449	Anne Beauchamp (1444–1449)	15th Countess of Warwick		When Anne died in childhood the Earldom passed to Henry's sister, also called Anne, and her husband Richard Neville.
1449–1471	Anne Anne Neville, 16th Countess of Warwick Anne de Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick was the daughter of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, and his second wife Isabel le Despenser. Isabel was a daughter of Thomas le Despenser Anne de Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick (13 July 1426 – 20 September 1492) was the daughter of... (1426–1492) and Richard Neville Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander... ('Warwick the Kingmaker') (1428–1471)	16th Earl and Countess of Warwick	Gatehouse and barbican Barbican A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from... completed. In 1469 Warwick rebelled against Edward IV Edward IV of England Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England... and imprisoned him in the castle, until Royalist protests forced him to release the king.	Although Anne had brought both castle and earldom to the marriage, on Richard's death she lost both. Of their two children, Isabella married the Duke of Clarence, while her younger daughter, also Anne, married the future Richard III. They haggled over how to divide the inheritance even though the 16th Countess outlived them all.
1472–1478	George Plantagenet George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, 1st Earl of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Warwick, KG was the third son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, and the brother of kings Edward IV and Richard III. He played an important role in the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the... (1449–1478)	Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick		Along with gaining control (although with uncertain ownership) of the castle, George was made Earl of Warwick under a new creation.
1478–1499	Edward Plantagenet Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick was the son of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence and a potential claimant to the English throne during the reigns of both Richard III and his successor, Henry VII... (1475–1499)	Earl of Warwick	The Bear and Clarence Towers were built around this period as stair turrets of a large tower begun by Richard III but left unfinished.	Edward was 3 when his father George died (by rumour, drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine), so the Warwick estates were held in custody by the Crown. Following the Simnel Lambert Simnel Lambert Simnel was a pretender to the throne of England. His claim to be the Earl of Warwick in 1487 threatened the newly established reign of King Henry VII .-Early life:... and Warbeck Perkin Warbeck Perkin Warbeck was a pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII of England. By claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, the younger son of King Edward IV, one of the Princes in the Tower, Warbeck was a significant threat to the newly established Tudor Dynasty,... controversies, Edward was executed aged 21, and the Crown's title to Warwick Castle became absolute.
1499–1547	Crown Property	1499–1509, Henry VII Henry VII Henry VII may refer to:* Henry VII, Duke of Bavaria * Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor * Henry VII of England * Henry II of Sicily sometimes described as Henry of Germany... , 1509–47, Henry VIII	Kitchens improved, Spy Tower built, and state rooms extended.
1547–1553	John Dudley I John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG was an English general, admiral, and politician, who led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until 1553, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death... (1504–1553)	created Earl of Warwick, Duke of Northumberland		The Earldom and subsequent grant of the castle were part of Dudley's rapid rise to power during wars with France and Scotland. Embroiled, with his son Guildford Lord Guildford Dudley Lord Guildford Dudley was the husband of Lady Jane Grey who, declared as his heir by King Edward VI, occupied the English throne from 6/10 July till 19 July 1553. Guildford Dudley enjoyed a humanist education and was married to Jane in a magnificent celebration about six weeks before... , in Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed... 's claim to the throne. Executed by Mary I Mary I of England Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547... .
1553–1554	John Dudley II John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick John Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick, KG, KB was an English nobleman and the heir of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, leading minister and de facto ruler under Edward VI of England from 1550–1553. As his father's career progressed, John Dudley respectively assumed his father's former... (c.1527–1554)	2nd Earl of Warwick		The younger John Dudley used the title of Earl of Warwick as a courtesy title Courtesy title A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles... when his father was made a Duke, and inherited the earldom in his own right when the elder Dudley died. Condemned for treason alongside his father, he was reprieved, but died soon after his release.
1554–1562	Crown Property	1554–1558, Mary I Mary I of England Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547... ; 1558–1561, Elizabeth I Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty... .
1562–1590	Ambrose Dudley Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, KG was an English nobleman and general, and an elder brother of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester... (c.1530–1590)	created Earl of Warwick in 1561		Younger son of the Duke of Northumberland. Restored to favour (Elizabeth I visited the castle in 1572) but died without an heir, so the castle again reverted to the Crown..
1590–1604	Crown Property	1590–1603, Elizabeth I Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty... ; 1603–04, James I James I of England James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
1604–1628	Fulke Greville Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, de jure 13th Baron Latimer and 5th Baron Willoughby de Broke , known before 1621 as Sir Fulke Greville, was an Elizabethan poet, dramatist, and statesman.... (1554–1628)	created Baron Brooke in 1621	Substantial repairs and improvements to castle and grounds, including the winding path up the mound.	Sir Fulke was granted the castle by James I James I of England James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603... , but without much of its former estates. The title of Earl of Warwick was separated from the castle, and conferred on Lord Rich and his descendants in 1618, where it remained until 1759. Fulke was murdered by a trusted old servant, aggrieved that he was not included in Fulke's will.
1628–1643	Robert Greville Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke was an English Civil War Roundhead General.Greville was the cousin and adopted son of Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, and thus became 2nd Lord Brooke, and owner of Warwick Castle. He was born in 1607, and entered parliament for Warwickshire in 1628... (1607–1643)	2nd Baron Brooke	The Castle withstood a siege by Royalists in 1642, and held prisoners in the dungeon.	Fulke Greville never married, but a provision allowed the barony and castle to pass to his cousin. Robert fought for the Parliamentarians in the Civil War English Civil War The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists... and was killed at the siege of Litchfield.
1643–1658	Francis Greville Francis Greville, 3rd Baron Brooke Francis Greville, 3rd Baron Brooke was the eldest son and heir of Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke and his wife Margaret.... (died 1658)	3rd Baron Brooke		He had no children and was succeeded in turn by his two brothers, Robert and Fulke.
1658–1677	Robert Greville (c.1638–1677)	4th Baron Brooke	Robert began, in 1670, the refitting of the state rooms. A work carried on much more thoroughly by his brother Fulke.	Robert was one of the six peers chosen to invite the return of Charles II Charles II of England Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War... .
1677–1710	Fulke Greville (1643–1710)	5th Baron Brooke	Panelling in the Red Drawing Room and Cedar Room was installed around 1681. Also the Blue Boudoir and a number of upstairs interiors date to this period.	William III William III of England William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland... visited the castle in 1695. Fulke's two sons, Fulke and William each succeeded him to the barony.
1710–1711	Fulke Greville (1693–1711)	6th Baron Brooke
1711–1727	William Greville (1695–1727)	7th Baron Brooke
1727–1773	Francis Greville Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick KT , known as Lord Brooke from 1727 to 1746 and Earl Brooke from 1746 to 1759, was a British nobleman.... (1719–1773)	8th Baron Brooke created Earl Brooke and in 1759, 1st Earl of Warwick in a new creation.	From the 1740s there began a 50 year period of major works to many parts of the castle. Francis built a new two-storey block alongside the Great Hall, and cut the passage through the wall to join the two upstairs sets of rooms. He commissioned Capability Brown Capability Brown Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure... to lay out the gardens in 1753. The Chapel interior was refitted in 1759. The State Dining Room was completed in 1765, as was the stable block.	When the last of the Rich family died without heir, Francis successfully petitioned for the Earldom, and founded the fourth creation of the Earls of Warwick.
1773–1816	George Greville George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick, FRS, FSA , styled Lord Greville until 1773, was a British nobleman and politician.... (1746–1816)	2nd Earl of Warwick	George acquired many of the pictures, books, arms and armour that still furnish the castle. He bought a huge Roman vase Warwick Vase The Warwick Vase is an ancient Roman marble vase with Bacchic ornament that was discovered at Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli about 1771 by Gavin Hamilton, a Scottish painter-antiquarian and art dealer in Rome .... , and built the conservatory to house it. He cut through the bedrock to create a winding driveway, made the lake, and planted the grounds with trees.	The expense of these and other projects bankrupted the Earl for some years from 1804.
1816–1853	Henry Richard Greville Henry Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick Henry Richard Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick, 3rd Earl Brooke KT , styled Lord Brooke from 1786 to 1816, was a British Tory politician.... (1779–1853)	3rd Earl of Warwick
1853–1893	George Guy Greville George Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick George Guy Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick, 4th Earl Brooke , styled Lord Brooke from 1818 to 1853, was an English Tory politician.... (1818–1893)	4th Earl of Warwick	Substantial repairs were undertaken following a fire in the Great Hall in 1871, paid for by public subscription.
1893–1924	Francis Richard Greville Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick Francis Richard Charles Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick , styled Lord Brooke until 1893, was a British Conservative politician.... (1853–1924)	5th Earl of Warwick
1924–1928	Leopold Guy Greville Leopold Greville, 6th Earl of Warwick Leopold Guy Francis Maynard Greville, 6th Earl of Warwick MVO was simultaneously Earl Brooke of Warwick Castle and Baron Brooke of Beauchamps Court.... (1882–1928)	6th Earl of Warwick
1928–1978	Charles Guy Greville Charles Greville, 7th Earl of Warwick Charles Guy Fulke Greville, 7th Earl of Warwick, 7th Earl Brooke was born on March 4, 1911 and died on January 20, 1984.On January 31, 1928, he succeeded to the title of 7th Earl Brooke of Warwick Castle [Great Britain, 1746]; and he also succeeded to the title of 7th Earl of Warwick [Great... (1911–1984)	7th Earl of Warwick	In 1978 the castle and its contents were sold to Tussauds Group.	The Earl, having sold the castle, has been succeeded by his son David (1934–1996) and grandson Guy (b. 1957) as the 8th and 9th Earl of Warwick, respectively.
1978–2007	Tussauds Group		The castle was converted from private residence (although open to the public) to a major visitor attraction.	Tussauds has been owned successively by S Pearson and Son Pearson PLC Pearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird... (to 1999), Charterhouse Development Capital (to 2005) and Dubai International Capital Dubai International Capital Dubai International Capital is the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, a holding company and sovereign wealth fund of the government of Dubai and its ruling family and has been over-leveraged to the point whereby the company is not able to service its interest payments in a normal fashion... (to 2007).
2007–	Merlin Entertainments Group Merlin Entertainments Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd is a British operator of amusement parks and other attractions. It is the largest such company in Europe, and globally the second largest after Walt Disney Parks and Resorts....			Bought by Blackstone Group Blackstone Group The Blackstone Group L.P. is an American-based alternative asset management and financial services company that specializes in private equity, real estate, and credit and marketable alternative investment strategies, as well as financial advisory services, such as mergers and acquisitions ,... and Tussauds Group was merged with other holdings to form Merlin Entertainments Merlin Entertainments Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd is a British operator of amusement parks and other attractions. It is the largest such company in Europe, and globally the second largest after Walt Disney Parks and Resorts....

Table of owners

See also