31 January 2011

Oldest house in Winchester

Here on the corner of Blue Ball Hill and St John's Street is what is supposed to be the oldest house in Winchester. It's the Old Blue Boar and was built around 1340. The property which is now a private house was originally an inn known as The White Boar which was the emblem associated with King Richard III. King Richard was killed in a battle at Bosworth Field in 1485 by Henry VII who had been helped by the Earl of Oxford. The Earl's badge was a Blue Boar and in order not to upset the new King many owners of White Boar Inns were reported to have quickly painted their white boars blue!

The pub is also renowned for being the place in 1764 where a volunteer solider called Thomas Thetcher "died of a violent fever contracted by drinking small beer when hot". He is buried in Winchester cathedral as my post yesterday showed.

16 comments:

  1. Your photos are really interesting and I appreciate the stories that go with them.

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  2. Well well... not sure if I'd want to live there. It might be haunted! ;-)

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  3. Interesting story...! I love history!

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  4. I wonder how high the ceilings are in the house. I bet people were a LOT shorter nearly 700 years ago.

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  5. Yes, I bet at 5ft3 I might even feel tall in that house!

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  6. At last a Yorkshire connection, Richard III spent many years here at Middleham Castle, I have an English Heritage press pass and so was there late last summer. People were much shorter in medieval England, a giant was someone over 6' tall.

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  7. Amazing the building is still standing. Difficult for me to comprehend something built so long ago. Thanks for this story.

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  8. I was lucky enough to be able to go into this house today. The owners said they do not know of any ghost stories associated with it. It is very beautiful inside, with original beams and wooden galleries. It is NOT actually the oldest house in Winchester as often said - there is a house in Chesil Street which is some 60 years older.

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    1. Grew up in this house between 2001 - 2007. Great to have experienced - good atmosphere and not as scary as some might think. If there were any ghosts then they'll have been drunken men playing cards on the gallery :)

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  9. Thanks for the info Tricia, it's always great to hear from someone who knows the place. The building in Chesil Street (Chesil Rectory) dates from around 1420 I believe - they are both very old!

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  10. The owners of the Blue Boar (c 1340) said that a house in Chesil St (42 I think) is older by 60 years. I was able to take a photo of one of the galleries inside the BB.

    What a truly wonderful site this is!!! I have just discovered it this week, through googling the Blue Boar. I have already recommended it to friends in Caracas, Honolulu and Adelaide, all of whom love to see my far less good photos of gorgeous Winchester. I live on Badger Farm which provides endless opportunities for beautiful photos - I haven't yet come across any on your site of Badger Farm. I am passionate about local history and am delighted that the info you provide is excellent and accurate. Many thanks.

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  11. Hi Tricia, thanks for your kind comments! Glad you like the blog. I know I must get out more from the centre of Winchester, like you say to Badger Farm, Weeke etc. It's just laziness from living in the centre!

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  12. I lived in Weeke many years ago and would love to see some photos

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  13. I really must venture out of the centre of Winchester, I know! I tend to just go where I can walk to easily, but there are only so many photos of the Cathedral you can take! So I really must venture further afield

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    1. Just thought you guys might like to know that recent archaeology on the site of the new houses there has uncovered some fantastic finds from the same circa as the house and earlier too.

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    2. Wow, sounds great - I wonder if we'll get to see them

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