S is for Science School

This is a view of the Science School of Winchester College.  The Department is housed in a neo-Queen Anne building which was built in 1904 and overlooks the playing fields and water meadows. Science wasn't always so well thought of at Winchester, back in 1863, Moberley, the headmaster of Winchester College at the time, said that teaching science was "except for those who have a taste...practically worthless!"

For more 'S' related posts see ABC Wednesday

R is for Rotunda

Winchester has its own university, but there is also a campus of the University of Southampton here in Winchester - The Winchester School of Art. This building which is part of the School of Art, is called The Rotunda. It was built in 1964, originally as the library, but is now used as the graphic art studio. The building stands in a 'moat' which is a tributary of Winchester's river the Itchen.

For more 'R' related posts pop along to ABC Wednesday

P is for Phone Box

You don't see so many of these old style phone boxes - doesn't everyone have a mobile phone now? This one is pre 1939 designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and was given listed building status in 1987. However its elevation to this great height has not stopped its current condition, a pane of glass missing and something sprayed on the other windows (which seems to be a bit of a theme in Winchester - vandals like their privacy!) An interesting link between the designer of these telephone boxes is that his grandfather Sir George Gilbert Scott was the man who restored The Buttercross in Winchester.

For more 'P' related posts see ABC Wednesday

O is for Obelisk

Just around the corner from the Westgate is a monument erected in 1759 commemorating the plague of 1666.

During the plague it became the custom for country folk from outside of the city to bring their produce to this point outside the Westgate and leave them there. They would then retire to a distance while the citizens of Winchester came out to collect the produce, leaving their money in payment in a large bowl of vinegar in order to disinfect it. When they had gone back into the city through the Westgate the farmers and countrymen would come back and fish out the coins with pincers avoiding any possible infection.

For more 'O' related posts see ABC Wednesday

M is for Mayor

The Guildhall has recently been refurbished and had an open day to let members of the public see it all. Here is the Mayor's Parlour, an oak panelled room with photos of some of the Mayor's of Winchester. It's now hired out for meetings, weddings etc.

Winchester's current Mayor is Councillor Richard Izard. He is the 811th Mayor of Winchester, the Office of Mayor of Winchester being one of the oldest mayoralties in England, dating back to the period when the City was the national capital. By tradition, the Mayor of Winchester stands second only to the Lord Mayor of London in precedence of civic heads.

For more M Themed posts see abc wednesday

L is for Little Minster Street

Just behind the Cathedral Close wall is Little Minster Street. There is a pretty 17th century house on the corner here, and in the background the spire of the former church of St Thomas and St Clements in Southgate Street, used as the Hampshire Records Office until 1993 and now used by Hampshire County Council.

For more 'L' themed posts see ABC Wednesday

K is for Kingsgate Books & Prints

Built into Kingsgate, one of the 2 remaining city gates of Winchester, is a nice little shop called Kingsgate Books & Prints. It sells antiquarian books, prints and paintings (particularly of Winchester), it also does picture framing.

For more K related posts see ABC Wednesday

J is for Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, you may have read the novels of Jane Austen or seen them adapted into film/TV but did you know that Jane Austen is buried here in Winchester in the Cathedral.

In May 1817, suffering from a kidney disorder, she came to Winchester from Chawton along with her sister to be close to her doctor. Unfortunately Jane died a couple of months after arriving here aged 41 years old and was laid to rest in the cathedral. The original memorial stone over Jane’s tomb (to the left of the photo) makes no reference to her literary achievements, so a brass plaque was added in 1872 to redress this.

For more 'J' themed posts see ABC Wednesday

I is for Itchen

The River Itchen's source is situated just south of the village of Cheriton in Mid Hampshire, it passes through Winchester and down to Southampton Water and is 28 miles long. The river flows in several different channels through the Winchester, some of which come close enough to Winchester Cathedral to have caused serious problems to the building's foundations in earlier years. The main channel flows through Winchester City Mill along an area known as the Weirs, the river then heads south through a series of water meadows passing the Hospital of St Cross before leaving the city and heading towards the villages of Twyford and Shawford. This photo of the Itchen is in the St Cross area with St Catherine's Hill to the right.

For more 'I' themed posts see ABC Wednesday

H is for Horse trough

In Jewry Street there is a trough which is a memorial to all the horses killed in the South African War 1899-1902. It was presented to the City of Winchester by Mrs Isabella Clowes who lived here for 69 years. It's believed around six hundred thousand horses died during the Boer War. It was originally a working water trough, but now is full of plants. I don't think I have ever seen a horse in Winchester, although outside of the city, particularly to the south, there are lots of stables and riding centres.

For more 'H' related posts see ABC Wednesday

F is for Fire Station

The 'F' has already fallen off as you can see and there's no need to replace it as today is the day the fire brigade leave Winchester. The building has been sold and will be developed into luxury apartments/houses. The fire brigade now has a new fire station on the outskirts of town. It seems that eventually all services occupying buildings in the centre of Winchester are moved out of town and their buildings sold off to be converted into housing. The military left their barracks some years ago (see here). We still have a hospital, police station and prison - they would make such lovely apartments...!

For more 'F' posts see ABC Wednesday

E is for English Civil War

The English Civil War (1641-1651) brought destruction to Winchester, with the city initally supporting the King (Charles I). Winchester Cathedral did not remain unscathed. Within the Cathedral are 6 wooden mortuary chests which contain the remains of some of the earliest Saxon Kings. They are the oldest royal bones in England. Names that you might recognise include King Canute who tried to hold back the sea, King Ethelwulf father of Alfred the Great and the oldest of all King Cynegils (reigned from 611-43) the 1st Christian King of Wessex.

Unfortunately no-one knows who is in which chest as in 1642 during the English Civil War Oliver Cromwell's soldiers broke open the chests and scattered the bones on the cathedral floor. They then used the bigger bones to smash the stained glass windows of the cathedral. The bones were later (around 1661) returned to the chests.

For more 'E' Photos go to ABC Wednesday

D is for Drawings

At the beginning of 2010 the Winchester-based artist Claire Fuller set herself the goal of producing a drawing every day for one year. Her work is currently on display in the Theatre Royal in Jewry Street. She uses a mixture of ink, charcoal, and even the humble biro pen for most of her drawings. I particularly like the bottom right hand drawing as it reminds me of my son!

For more 'D' related posts visit ABC Wednesday

C is for Chesil Rectory

The Chesil Rectory is a very nice restaurant in Winchester. It's a Grade II listed building dating back to 1450, and still retains many original features including solid oak beams, ancient doorways and beautiful open fireplaces. On their website they say they are "the oldest house in Winchester" but we already know that The Old Blue Boar also claims to be the oldest!  Whatever! They are both very old!

The word Chesil is believed to be a derivative of the old English "chisol", meaning a shingly beach or bank.

For more 'C's see ABC Wednesday

Bishop On The Bridge

B is for Bishop On The Bridge which is a pleasant pub in Winchester. It has a nice atmosphere, live bands occasionally and a great beer garden next to the river (the river is to the left of the pub)

The old East Gate of the city stood approximately where the pub is today, however this was demolished in 1768. The current building dates from 1891 and has been known by various names, The Great Western Hotel, The Riverside Inn, The Louisiana, The Old Monk and more recently The Bishop On The Bridge. The Bishop in question is St Swithun the Saxon Bishop of Winchester from 852-862 who built the 1st bridge over the River Itchen.

Celebrity claim to fame for this pub - James Cagney stayed at this pub in 1942 when he came to Winchester to visit American servicemen at a Red Cross Hospital located in Winchester.

For more photos beginning with 'B' see ABC Wednesday

A is for Almshouses

 

In Winchester I was surprised to find that a number of beautiful buildings I'd seen are infact Almshouses, that is houses for the 'poor or needy'. These buildings here in the photo were built in 1856 and contain 24 apartments which are available to needy, local persons of 'good character' over retirement age at a nominal rent. They are owned and run by St John's Winchester Charity which was founded as long ago as 931 by St Brinstan, Bishop of Winchester, which makes it one of the oldest charitable foundations in the country. Quite a pretty place to spend your last years.

For more 'A' photos see ABC Wednesday

W is for Westgate

The Westgate is one of only two fortified medieval gateways in the city to survive (the other being Kingsgate). It was built as early as the 12th century, and has been used as a guardhouse, jail and debtors prison. Since the late 19th century Westgate has been used as a museum. Up until 1959 traffic passed through the archway of the Westgate. The road is now diverted to the side. Up until the 1938 a pub  (The Plume of Feathers) adjoined Westgate, there's an old photo of it from around 1900 here. The pub was demolished to make way for the road and Council offices.

For more W posts see ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday & Theme Day - Time

As part of the City Daily Photo Theme Day of Time we have the clock at Winchester Cathedral. It's also 'T' at ABC Wednesday

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