The Foot of Caesar Tower, Warwick, Przewodnik dla zwiedzających i co robić w okolicy

Caesar's Tower is the trefoil-shaped medieval tower at the edge of Warwick Castle in Warwick, England, rising above the River Avon. It holds the castle dungeon at its base and is tied to Warwick's best-known ghost story, the legend of Moll Bloxham and her hellhound. The foot of the tower, reached along Mill Street, is one of the best places to take in its full height from outside the castle.

The story behind it

The tower was raised in the 14th century as part of the castle's defences, and its unusual three-lobed plan sets it apart from the round and square towers you see elsewhere. Its dungeon, at the base, gives the place its darker reputation.

The legend goes that Moll Bloxham, an elderly castle servant, was allowed by the Earl of Warwick to sell surplus milk and butter after she retired. The housewives of the town complained that she was short-measuring their milk, and the Earl banished her from Warwick. Soon afterwards she returned as a great black hellhound, leaping the town walls and tearing apart the women who had accused her, until only the Earl remained. He summoned three vicars, who drove the beast up Caesar's Tower, where it jumped from a window into the river. The tale says it is still trapped in the water by the weir, waiting to be set free. It is a local legend, not recorded history, and all the better for it.

What to look for

• The shape of the tower itself, a trefoil of three joined lobes that gives it a very different outline from the other castle towers.
• The thick, sheer stonework rising straight from the rock above the river, which shows how the castle was meant to look to anyone approaching.
• The river Avon below the walls, where the legend says the hellhound vanished, and the weir that is said to hold it.
• The old timber-framed houses along Mill Street, which sit in sharp contrast to the castle wall above them.

Tips for your visit

• Seeing the tower from Mill Street costs nothing, and 15 to 20 minutes is plenty for photos and the view from the riverside.
• Going inside the tower and the dungeon is part of a Warwick Castle visit, so check current opening hours and entry arrangements before you go.
• Soft morning or late afternoon light shows off the stonework best, and the street is usually quieter early in the day.
• Warwick Castle, St Mary's Church and the old town centre are all a short walk away, so it is easy to combine with a wider wander.

See it on a quest

The Dark Warwick: Ghosts, Crime & Legends Walking Tour & Escape Game brings you to the foot of Caesar's Tower on foot, as one stop on a longer route through the town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, which makes a legend like Moll Bloxham's far more vivid than a plaque would. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.