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King Alfred and the Guildhall A proud King Alfred the Great stands atop his column looking up The Broadway towards The Guildhall. There is plenty to see in Winchester and as well as the usual famous spots such as the Cathedral and the Round Table at the Great Hall for instance- do not miss The Hospital of St.Cross a couple of miles south of Winchester. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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The Ambulatory In this corner of the Inner Quadrangle we see through the arch of the Beaufort Tower to the Outer Quadrangle. The tower is named after Cardinal Beaufort who was a very powerful Bishop of Winchester ( 1404-1447 ). The Porter's lodge is on the bottom of the tower ( to the right of the arch as we view it here ) - call here for your "Wayfarer's Dole". The older looking building running along the right hand side of the shot is the Ambulatory or cloister running from the Beaufort Tower to the church which is behind us in this shot. The area above the Porter's Lodge is where once the Master's Lodgings were, the Ambulatory linked these to the church. It is thought the upper floor of the Ambulatory might have been an infirmary. The Ambulatory looks very old , YET- it is one of the more recent parts of the Hospital of St.Cross. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Hospital of St.Cross- The Gardens Here is part of the Hospital gardens and we see a large rectangular pond. The gardens were originally laid to commemorate Henry Compton, a former Master at St.Cross 1667-1675. He went on to become Bishop of London and at that time including a diocese of America. Therefore many plants in the garden reflect the New World. The Master's Garden's incorporates The Compton Garden. There is a tree growing here planted in 1986 by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and also a tulip tree planted by Camilla in 2008. This picture appears in the following picture tours: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Church of St.Cross, Winchester The church dates from 1135 when building was started and is used by the brethren of the Hospital of St.Cross. It is also used by the residents of St.Cross with the permission of the brethren on the understanding that they have their places reserved. I failed to see it on our visit but have learnt that there is a window with a strange angled surround and on a pillar on a column is a cross of St.Cross. On May 3rd ( in the church calendar of the invention of the cross ) and on September 14th ( Holy Cross Day) sunlight falls on this this cross on these and only these dates. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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Inner Quadrangle, Hospital of St.Cross A general view of the Inner Quadrangle at the Hospital of St.Cross, the buildings on the left with the tall chimneys are the homes of the Bretheren. The almshouses are said to be the oldest in England and is home to 25 gentlemen, 17 wear the black gown of the original foundation and his trencher- a flat soft fabric hat. The black gown has a silver cross affixed ( same as the cross on the wooden tray in my shot of the Wayfarerer's Dole ).Eight other Brothers wear the red gowns of the Order of Noble Poverty and have a cardinal's badge on it. In the centre of the shot one can see the steps leading to on the left the Master's Office and to the right of the steps the Brethren's Hall where at one time they would eaten, but now only used on special occasions. The Beaufort Tower has the entrance at it's base with the Porter's Lodge to the right and this is where one obtains the Wayfarer's Dole. At the building on the far right one can see the entrance leading to the gardens and the the Ambulatory. An atmosphere of peace and quiet pervades the whole area and it is really a step back in time. This picture appears in the following picture tours: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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The Church of St.Cross The Church of St.Cross is attached to the Hospital of St.Cross and is seen here from the water meadows by the River Itchen. The church dates from 1135 and stone was brought in from as far afield as Caen in France,Dorset and the Isle of Wight with flint from local chalk pits. It was from around here the Henry de Blois ( grandson of William the Conqueror )was stopped by a peasant girl who with her people were starving because of the civil war raging at the time, the plea worked and on the spot where the Hospital now stands a site to help the poor was founded and remains to this day. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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The Wayfarer's Dole. Here at the Hospital of St.Cross ( on the road south out of Winchester) is the oldest Almshouse in England. There is a fine history of sheltering people for over 850 years and one of the traditions is upheld to this day and that is the "Wayfarers Dole". Pilgrims could call here and claim their Dole on their journey travelling the east-west pilgrim route. The Dole consists of once wine but later ale ( water was always unsafe to drink ) and some bread. Call at the Porter's Lodge today and you too could claim your " Wayfarer's Dole" although nowadays it is a token drink of ale and a morsel of bread. The picture shows the tray of mugs for the ale and the tongs for the bread ( you can just see the bottom of the bread jar. Sorry the shot is not what I had in mind but the only chance to take it was one handed when I was at the counter paying for some purchases. This picture appears in the following picture tour: Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D |
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From Rectory to Restuarant This picture appears in the following picture tours: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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Cheyney Court This was formally the Bishop's Court House. This picture appears in the following picture tours: Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-FZ38 |
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