It is immediately south of the River Thames, which forms its boundary with its smaller, ancient twin town of Eton.

The early history of the site is unknown, although it was almost certainly[dubious – discuss] settled some years before 1070 when William the Conqueror had a timber motte-and-bailey castle constructed.

In the later medieval period, royal use of the site increased, probably because it offered good access to woodlands and opportunities for hunting – a sport which also developed military skills.

The settlement at Old Windsor largely transferred to New Windsor during the 12th century, although substantial planning and setting out of the new town (including the parish church, marketplace, bridge, hermitage and leper hospital) did not take place until c. 1170, under Henry II, following the civil war of Stephen's reign.

The treaty involved agreements regarding the two kings' respective spheres of influence on the island of Ireland, control over their subjects, and the paying of tribute to Henry.

Windsor's position as chief town of Berkshire was short-lived, however, as people found it difficult to reach.

The repeated investment in the castle brought London merchants (goldsmiths, vintners, spicers and mercers) to the town in the late 13th century and provided much employment for townsmen.

The poet Geoffrey Chaucer held the honorific post of Clerk of the Works at Windsor Castle in 1391.

Pilgrims came to touch the royal shrine of the murdered Henry VI, the fragment of the True Cross and other important relics.

For London pilgrims, Windsor was probably – but briefly – of greater importance than Canterbury and the shrine of that city's patron saint Thomas Becket.

With the closures of the Reformation, however, Windsor's pilgrims traffic died out, and the town began to stagnate about ten years afterwards.

Henry, the founder of the Church of England, may have wanted to benefit from the stream of pilgrims coming to the town.

Most accounts of Windsor in the 16th and 17th centuries talk of its poverty, badly made streets and poor housing.

The contraction in the number of old public buildings speaks of a town 'clearing the decks', ready for a renewed period of prosperity with Charles II's return to the Castle.

In 1652 the largest house in Windsor Great Park was built on land which Oliver Cromwell had appropriated from the Crown.

The substantial redevelopment of the castle in the subsequent decade and Queen Victoria's residence from 1840, as well as the coming of two railways in 1849, signalled the most dramatic changes in the town's history.

These events catapulted the town from a sleepy medieval has-been to the centre of empire – many European crowned heads of state came to Windsor to visit the Queen throughout the rest of the 19th century.

Unfortunately, excessive redevelopment and 'refurbishment' of Windsor's medieval fabric at this time resulted in widespread destruction of the old town, including the demolition of the old parish church of St John the Baptist in 1820.

The original parish church of Windsor is dedicated to St John the Baptist and is situated adjacent to the High Street.

[9] In 1543, Henry Filmer, Robert Testwood and Anthony Pearson, the three Windsor Martyrs, were burnt at the stake in Deanery Gardens, near the church.

Charles Hollis was appointed architect and the new building was erected between 1820 and 1822 with cast iron columns that were floated down the Thames.

The new church, Gothic in style with a pinnacle tower containing the bells, was officially consecrated by the Bishop of Salisbury on 22 June 1822.

[12][13] As a result of the castle, Windsor is a popular tourist destination and has facilities usually found in larger towns: two railway stations, a theatre and several substantial hotels.

Windsor & Eton Riverside station is the terminus for South Western Railway direct services from London Waterloo.

(2011) The team currently play in the Combined Counties League Division One and their home ground was Stag Meadow, granted to the original club by King George V in 1911, before they moved to Holloways Park.

Windsor Rugby Club also use the Home Park (public) ground and the team currently plays in the Southern Counties North division.

[1][23] As at November 2023, the possibility of creating a civil parish covering the town was being considered by the borough council, but no decision had been made.

The current crier is Chris Brown[25] In 2018 the belongings of homeless people were controversially removed and stored for reasons of security.

New Windsor's earliest known charter was issued in 1277, but the evidence suggests the town was administered as a borough prior to that.

[36][37][38] The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead became a unitary authority in 1998 when it took over the functions of the abolished Berkshire County Council.