Hampshire Reports
Review of Winchester by Cheryl citron on October 16th, 2006
We visited Winchester from north carolina, USA three days in early October 2006. The weather was mixed - a lot of rain but sun as well. About 50 to 60 degrees F. We stayed at the Wykeham Arms - you can't get a better place with nice and historic rooms, friendly staff and very good food in the very old pub and the restaurant. It was a five minutes walk to the fabulous Winchester Cathedral, where I took an excellent and informative tour. You are allowed to take as many photos as you want and even though inexperienced in its use, I had fine shots from our digital camera.
I then went to "The City Museum" on the main street and took the audio tour. Unless your heart is hardened against seeing 2000 year old Roman and Anglo-Saxon artifacts, skeletons, jewelry, and dioramas of winchester at different periods in history you will love this place. They don't care if you touch the stuff on display. History of winchester from the time of the romans to modern times with the exclusion of the 16th and 17th century you can then see at the Westgate Museum. This latter is the remaining of the four gates of the old wall around Winchester and you get good views of the High street if you climb to the top. Also the man inside told me fine tales about the stufff on display, especially the gibbeting iron.
Another high point for me was the wallk on the walking path from the Cathedral to the Hospital/Church of St. Cross, the origianl alsmhouse of the area built around 1000 AD. The church is beautiful and is in neo-Romanesque style, the grounds and the Bishop's Garden beautiful and I met a 90 year old current resident (there are 25 men who live there) who gave me a tour and let me see his apartment. The walk back to the Catherdral was not long but idyllic - passing cricket fields of Winchester college, near a small river or two and very peaceful.
Another place I enjoyed eating at was "The Bishop on the Bridge" which I had to do by myself as my husband was tied up at nearby IBM in Hursley and I did not feel awkward dining and reading there by myself for quite a while at night.
We also enjoyed the rather long walk from the path near Wykeham Arms to St. Giles Hill which gives you a great view of Winchester with the cathedral and High street clearly visible.
Winchester is a wonderful historic City that has also great shopping if you are into that. I warn you with the exchange rate as it is, many thing scost about twice what they would in the US, so it is not cheap. Also winchester is in a great position to visit other places of interest in England , for example, only about an hour drive to Oxford. And not too far from Stonehenge.
We have practice driving in England and my husband found that it came back to him pretty fast although it is very helpful to have someone help navigate. It is the best way to get around England if you intendn to go to several places. Just remember to go to the left when you go around a roundabout - which is easy if there is a lot of traffic. Have fun!
Review of Winchester by col BKD Badgel, 11 GR on October 12th, 2006
I visited the Museum in 2000 but do not remember seeing the medaals of GANJU LAMA, VC, MM there. Request intimate if Medals are kept in the Museum.
Thanks in anticipation.
Yours Sincerely,
Col Badgel
Review of Winchester by Pete Butler on April 8th, 2006
Few cities can rival this great place, and a visit is always highly enjoyable. Winchester Cathedral has the longest nave in Europe, AND the largest space of Medieval floor tiles to be found anywhere. Bloody Mary and Philip of Spain were married here, and the tombs of Jane Austen and several Bishop's of Winchester are to be seen, amongst other delights. William of Whykeham, Bishop of Winchester, established the prestigious Winchester College and New College, Oxford, shortly afterward, prompting King Henry the Sixth to establish his own: Eton, and King's College. The ruins of Wolvesey Castle are very interesting, built by Henry de Blois; Bishop of Winchester and brother of King Stephen. It was Henry who stepped in and negotiated Matilda's freedom with King Stephen, when she came to stay at Arundel Castle in 1139. She then fled to Bristol. Winchester Castle is today practically non-existant, save for Henry the Third's Great Hall..a stunning building which houses the famous 13th Century Round Table.
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