This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Visitors to the city flock to the grand Gothic cathedral and its beautiful cathedral close , the medieval almshouses of St Cross and Winchester Castle’s Great Hall, which is the subject of today’s blog post.

The English Civil War almost saw the Great Hall lost forever. King Alfred. There is also a small but rather excellent museum adjacent to the Great Hall that contains an exhibition of the history of Winchester. Monmouth and his supporters had been defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor on 6th July 1685, and Monmouth was executed at Tower Hill on 15th July. The area was originally settled in the Iron Age, then became the Roman town of Venta Belgarum and there has been a cathedral in the city since the 7th Century. His bones are said to lie in a mortuary chest you can see today. Another addition made at this time of restoration was the installation of the present stained glass windows, which depict the heraldic arms of various figures important to the history of the county of Hampshire. Although it's about 25 miles north of Winchester, this must-see historic home has become one of England's major tourist attractions thanks to its starring role in the hugely successful Downton Abbey TV show. As such vast spaces of worship go, it is also on the friendly side, full of tours, concerts and much-attended services. With its mighty beard that does not match the clean-shaven image of the coins minted in his reign, it is as if the late Victorians were trying to channel the spirit of King Arthur’s even earlier and mistier reign.

All text and images (unless otherwise indicated) on Flickering Lamps are © 2014-2020 Caroline Swan, and must not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission from the copyright holder. Meanwhile, the Old Gaolhouse has reformed itself so thoroughly as to be a free house, complete with a Wetherspoons badge. The Great Hall is open 11am to 3pm daily, except for Thursdays when it is closed to the public. In 1603, Sir Walter Ralegh was tried for treason at Winchester Great Hall. For here it is, the great cathedral, boasting the world’s longest medieval nave.

Confident calls and flaxen Boris-hair. The past still echoes strongly around the flint-flecked walls of this ancient cathedral city. ( Log Out / 

The poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson played a significant part in this revival – works such as The Lady of Shalott and Idylls of the King captured the public’s imagination and were enormously popular. The original name of the county is perpetuated in the badges which are carved in the stonework of the adjacent county buildings with the latin words ‘Com. I used to work in Winchester, and remember it well. If this flurry of Minsters hasn’t alerted you to the appearance of something seriously ecclesiastical, the view as you cross The Square will do the trick. If the other side were to go the same way, you’d have an incongruously sterile valley for such a centre of conservation.

Because of its rather squat, pugnacious tower in the Norman style, it does not keep declaring itself to the town below in the manner of Norwich or Salisbury, but its coalition of grace and audacity is the equal of any cathedral in the land. As well as being a major tourist attraction, it is also a popular venue for weddings, and is often home to exhibitions and concerts. Its creator, author Philip Hoare, gives us a preview, It’s golden beaches, epic views and fine seafood all the way along this lazy week-long route from the Jurassic Coast to foodie Falmouth, This newly-refurbished pub with smart rooms and locally produced food is a great reason to break a journey to or from the West Country. True it was founded in 1799, but that’s almost modern for a grid standing on such a quantity of Anglo-Saxon and Roman matter. Head west along The Broadway, with the Gothic Revival cliff face of the Guildhall building filling your view to the left. Slope off down towards the level calm of the river Itchen. It was also at this time that the Round Table was moved to its present position, which presented an opportunity to study it more closely – it was while the table was being moved that it was first discovered that it had begun its life as a twelve-legged table rather than something originally designed to be hung on a wall. These spectacular windows were produced by John Hardman and Co, who had produced the stained glass windows for the Houses of Parliament.

All rights reserved. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th Century Historia Regum Britannie (History of the Kings of Britain) brought the Arthurian legends to a European audience, and the Round Table was first mentioned in a Norman-language translation of Geoffrey’s work, Roman be Brut by the poet Wace, which was produced in the 1150s. Saxon scholar and soldier Alfred the Great is famous for his defence of southern England against Viking raids.

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Following the restoration of the monarchy, Charles II had grand plans to redevelop Winchester Castle as a royal residence grand enough to rival that of the French King Louis XIV at Versailles. Another piece of information: The spectacular bronze statue of Queen Victoria is by Sir Alfred Gilbert, famously known for his statue of ‘Eros’ in Piccadilly Circus, London.

Visit our online shop Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 11.39 EST. It has been the seat of what is now known as the Hampshire County Council since 1889, and the buildings in the vicinity the Great Hall are the administrative buildings of the council. Still, Hampshire Council is having none of your “table similar to the one…” and cunningly dubs it “the iconic Round Table of Arthurian Legend.”. Although its royal connections have diminished over the centuries, this amazing building has over the years witnessed sessions of Parliament, lavish diplomatic visits, high-profile trials and grand civic ceremonies. Where it turns into St Swithin Street, go left through the archway into College Street.

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