This building stands on the site of the Old Cornmarket and combined the structures of two houses to form The Winchester Provident Dispensary, set up in 1875 by a group of local citizens to provide medical help for the families of insured people . . . — — Map (db m230005) HM
Drove the Danish invaders from Wessex. He created fortified centres, of which Winchester, the largest, was his capital. During his reign, the streets in use today were first established. Alfred was the most esteemed of English kings. He . . . — — Map (db m230054) HM
King Alfred the Great was buried in Old Minster in 899. Three years later his body was moved to the New Minster, and later moved again to Hyde Abbey. Alfred is one of our nation's great men, religious, scholarly, a wise ruler. Wessex under his . . . — — Map (db m253424) HM
The east hall was the public audience chamber of Henry of Blois, designed for large assemblies and ceremonial occasions.
The hall was probably built by 1138, when the Winchester Annals record that 'Bishop Henry built a house like a palace'. . . . — — Map (db m246537) HM
When Winchester was the capital of England, a great castle stood on this spot and from here the King of England ruled supreme across the dominion.
Now, some 800 years later, all that remains is the Great Hall and these ruins of a tower from the . . . — — Map (db m250923) HM
The Chesil Rectory is Winchester's oldest commercial property & one of the city's best preserved Medieval buildings.
Built by a wealthy merchant between 1425-1450, the building has been an antique shop, a tannery, a private dwelling, general . . . — — Map (db m229955) HM
The earliest reference to the City Cross is in the early 14th century, when the tenant of this building was known as Walter at the Cross. Known locally as the Butter Cross, the structure was a focal point for civic ceremonies in the later Middle . . . — — Map (db m230012) HM
This building was erected in 1838 as the Corn Exchange and Market House by the architect Owen Brown Carter. After closure of the Market the structure was used as a roller skating rink and later became the Regent Cinema. The Library Service moved . . . — — Map (db m249664) HM
Bishop Henry employed the latest innovative technology at his palace, installing one of the earliest known medieval examples of a piped water supply.
Key to the water supply system was a substantial well-house in the central courtyard, located . . . — — Map (db m252748) HM
Before the time of Bishop Henry, there had already been a bishop's residence at Wolvesey for over 150 years.
The bishop of Winchester had lived as part of the community of monks who served the cathedral church. However, by the 10th century, the . . . — — Map (db m252749) HM
During the reign of King Stephen, there was a civil war - both Stephen and the Empress Matilda were claiming the English throne. As Stephen's brother and advisor, Bishop Henry was close to the centre of these affairs.
In 1141, King Stephen . . . — — Map (db m246539) HM
This building stands in an area known since the 11th century as Godbegeaton or 'good bargain'.
In the middle of the 15th century the present building, which forms part of a group of linked dwellings, was erected on this site. It was owned by . . . — — Map (db m230010) HM
The walls marked in black on the plan are those of the first church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul and built by King Cenwalh of Wessex in about 648 shortly after his baptism. The church may have been intended to serve the adjacent royal palace. . . . — — Map (db m253423) HM
The surviving ruins of Wolvesey were largely the creation of one man, Bishop Henry of Blois (1129-71), who built a palace befitting his immense wealth and powerful position.
When Henry of Blois became bishop of Winchester in 1129,
the . . . — — Map (db m246448) HM
Licoricia was a medieval businesswoman, working mother, and leader in her community. Like many Jewish women of her time, she was highly educated. This enabled her to succeed in a man's world despite prejudice. She paid a major levy towards the . . . — — Map (db m249663) HM
Morley College was founded by Bishop Morley 1672 as a charitable institution for widows of clergy from Winchester and Worcester Dioceses. The plaque over the central doors was taken from the original building, which was entirely replaced under the . . . — — Map (db m250918) HM
Winchester underwent dramatic change with the Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror ordered the construction of castle in the southwest corner of the walled city and rebuilt and enlarged the royal palace in front of the Old and New Minsters. In . . . — — Map (db m253425) HM
The brick lines set in the grass before you mark out the plan of Old Minster, the Anglo-Saxon cathedral demolished in 1093-94 to make way for the present cathedral.
Old Minster contained the shrine of St Swithun, a bishop of Winchester who died . . . — — Map (db m253375) HM
This group of buildings with a covered walkway is called the Pentice. The properties grew up along the northern boundary of William the Conqueror's palace, and encroached onto the road. As a result the High Street is at its narrowest here. Until the . . . — — Map (db m250920) HM
Queen Eleanor's Garden
A re-creation of a 13th century garden
Opened by
Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Mother
8th July 1986 — — Map (db m300638) HM
In pre-historic times, the Itchen flowed in two main channels in the centre of the river valley, near the Cathedral. Following the foundation of the Roman town, about 70 AD, this new artificial channel was created. This both reduced the chance of . . . — — Map (db m230027) HM
There has been a mill on this site since the 12th century. The medieval mill took its name from Segrim's Fount, a stream diverted in 1360 to increase power. Segrim's was the City's principal grain mill. The existing structure was built in 1885 at . . . — — Map (db m230003) HM
This trough is a memorial to all the horses killed in the South African War 1899-1902. It was presented to the City of Winchester by Mrs Isabella Clowes who lived here for 69 years. — — Map (db m239687) WM
Wolvesey was just one of many grand houses and castles owned by the bishops of Winchester, who spent much of their time travelling in order to carry out their diocesan duties.
Medieval England and Wales was divided into 21 dioceses, or areas of . . . — — Map (db m252619) HM
The Winchester Pipe Rolls, the annual accounts of the bishop's extensive estates, and the bishop's money were once stored within this gatehouse.
The bishops derived their wealth from vast landholdings, one of the richest estates of medieval . . . — — Map (db m252746) HM
This wall is part of King's House, designed by Christopher Wren for Charles II in 1683. When the king died, the 120 room residence had been completed, but plans to make the City a royal centre were abandoned. During the French Revolution 600 . . . — — Map (db m300196) HM
You are standing at the entrance to one of the greatest medieval buildings in England - the palace of the powerful and wealthy bishops of Winchester.
Throughout the medieval period the bishops of Winchester held one of the highest positions . . . — — Map (db m246446) HM
Here stood William the Conqueror's palace. Some Norman stones have been re-used in the old chimney breast to the left of this plate.
The site was later occupied until 1409 by the City Guildhall. — — Map (db m230059) HM
The William Walker sits under the shadow of the 11th Century cathedral in the centre of Winchester. William Walker, himself a deep sea diver, was called in during the early 1900's as huge cracks started to appear in the cathedral walls.
Walker . . . — — Map (db m240340) HM
The Guildhall was located on this site from 1361 until construction of the Victorian replacement in the Broadway. The existing building dates from 1713 and is adorned by a statue of Queen Anne and the Town Clock - gifts of rival families and . . . — — Map (db m230490) HM
Wolvesey Castle was originally the chief residence of the Bishops of Winchester, among the richest and most powerful figures in medieval England. The West Hall, the first part of the present palace, was begun by Bishop William Giffard c.1110. The . . . — — Map (db m254286) HM
This gatehouse was constructed by Henry of Blois between 1158 and 1171. Although built to appear strongly defended with a drawbridge and arrowloops in two adjacent rooms, it never had a military function. After 1376, it became the treasury and . . . — — Map (db m252624) HM
