The Long Walk, Windsor Castle

Photograph of The Long Walk, Windsor, with Windsor Castle in the distance.

The Long Walk was planted during the early 1680s in the reign of Charles II. It runs for approximately two and a half miles from the centre of the south front of the castle to Snow Hill, immediately behind the photographer. A single female figure, perhaps Fenton’s wife Grace, stands with her back to us, providing an element of mystery within the composition.

This photograph is one of 31 prints Fenton made of Windsor Castle, the Home Park and Great Park in 1860. When selecting the subjects for these views, Fenton did not seek access to areas normally barred to the public. Instead, he understood his audience would prefer to see images relating to their own experiences of the castle. Therefore, all the photographs in this series emphasise the Castle's role as a public monument, rather than as a royal residence.