The Beginning Of England

Well Winchester has been around for a very long time, with pre-historic forts in the area and was the centre of Anglo-Saxon England in the seventh & eigth centuries ... in other words, it was where the court was based. The city became known as Wintanceaster ("Fort Venta", as Venta was the pre-Roman name) in Old English In 648, King Cenwalh of Wessex erected the Church of St Peter and St Paul, originately called the Old Minster, but becoming the Cathedral in 666AD. The present form of the city dates from reconstruction in the late 9th century, when King Alfred the Great obliterated the Roman street plan in favour of a new grid in order to provide better defence against the Vikings. The city's first mint appears to date from this period.



King Alfred



One of the many decorated hares showing their history

A very odd statue ... not labelled, but in the middle of the high street





Entrance to Winchester College

On Cathedral Green


Winchester Castle was built in 1067, and the Great Hal (below) was built in 1222. The Round Table is 13th century, but re-painted early in the reign of King Henry VIII









Winchester Cathedral still to come ... but probably won't be until the weekend now.