Published in Windlesora 30 (2014)
© WLHG
The Royal Windsor Website.com was first launched back in 1998 because there was no other Windsor website at that time. The concept was to identify those aspects about the town that interested people and to record them and illustrate them where possible, for posterity.
In the past drawings, books and newspapers were the accepted method of documenting subjects of interest, then came photographs and newsreels, and now we have the internet which combines all these aspects and delivers them instantly and ‘on demand’ all over the world instantly. Remarkable!
The website’s original web address was http://www.thamesweb.co.uk but later the address http://www.theroyalwindsorwebsite.com was selected although both are in use today. One day all the stories will be moved to the later web address but, as we are a small, privately funded operation, that may take a while! In any event, the Google elves seem to find all that we have to offer very readily so there is no rush…
Since 1998 we have been creating an ever-increasing information resource for Windsor. Hundreds of stories and thousands of pictures have already been placed on the RWWS since its inception and we add more information daily so that it is accessible to anyone, anywhere, just anywhere, from around the corner to around the world. That is, as we said above, quite simply, an astonishing facility. Perhaps we should illustrate the point with an example or two.
May 1961
What significant event happened in May 1961, evidence of which remains to this day? Why did the Queen and the entire Windsor Borough Council Officers and Councillors walk the length of the High Street?
And why is the Rt. Hon. Duncan Sandys attacking the castle wall with such gusto?
Older residents will remember that it was the occasion of the ‘unveiling’ of the Civic Trust Improvement Scheme. The biggest success of this scheme was the removal, with the Queen’s permission, of the 8’ high wall along the High Street. Its demolition revealed the large expanse of lawn that now forms a fine feature around the Castle at that point.
In our story, The Civic Trust Improvement Scheme, we feature an illustrated report of that event and the work undertaken so that in the future everyone can find out about it and continue to keep Windsor’s town centre looking its best at all times.
March 1947
At that time, there was a major flood in Windsor. Residents can recall what areas were flooded, how long the flood lasted, what steps were taken to alleviate the problems and how the flood entered Windsor – and it wasn’t over Barry Avenue Promenade!
As time passes, this information could easily be forgotten and so would the personalities involved and their stories be forgotten too, both happy and sad. We have therefore provided web pages about The 1947 Floods to form a permanent and readily accessible history of the event, and of course we invite Windsor residents to contribute their memories to provide a greater and more comprehensive record.
Our objectives for the RWWS cannot be met without the support and input of Windsorians, past and present. We want to hear your stories, borrow your photos and feature your reminiscences about the town. Your input is very valuable.
In order to further develop this concept, in 2004 the RWWS was augmented by the creation of the RWWS Forum. The objective was quite simply to make it easy for others to post their stories, comments and pictures so that the resource that is the RWWS features yet more stories, pictures and comment about our town. Remember that these stories may well be lost if they are not recorded. As of Autumn 2014, the forum receives an average of 4,606 views per day and now totals 8,779,305 views since 2004 with 43,760 posts and 2,234 topics. Of that we are very proud!
We do hope you will support us in this project in whatever way you can hand in hand with the Windsor Local History Group.
Roger Cullingham
References
‘Our Concept for ThamesWeb’s Royal Windsor Website‘ on the RWWS website [accessed 5/2/2025].
‘The Civic Trust Project‘ ‘ on the RWWS website [accessed 5/2/2025].
‘RWWS Forum‘ on the RWWS website [accessed 5/2/25].
Windsor Local History Group 