Description:A view of the Great Hall at Warwick Castle, taken around 1900.
At this time, the medieval Hall (much altered by the Victorians) was used as a rather large living room. Like much of the castle, it was filled with huge amounts of furniture. Note the presence of the shaded lamps - electricity had been introduced to the castle just a few years earlier.
The Great Hall was also the venue for a great deal of socialising amongst members of late Victorian high society. It was here that Daisy, the Countess of Warwick, held lavish balls and weekend parties, often with fancy dress.
Through the doorway at the end of the room is a sequence (or 'enfilade') of five state rooms, most of which serve the purpose of drawing rooms, ideal for 'withdrawing' from such occasions.