St Mary's Church Easton

This is St Mary's Church in Easton, a pretty village just outside Winchester. St Mary’s is a Norman church probably dating from the twelfth century.

Cycle 4 Life & 1st anniversary

1 year ago today I started this blog! I must admit in September and October 2010 the 'daily' aspect was a bit lacking, but after this false start I have published a photo every day, bar one when my modem broke! I still feel there are many more things to photograph here especially as so far the blog has been very central Winchester orientated! So here's to the next 365 days and thank you to everyone who has ever dropped by the blog and to anyone who has taken the time to comment, it's really appreciated!

Back to today's photo.. yesterday I got totally drenched at the Cycle 4 Life sportive in aid of Cancer Research. It was a 25km, 50km or 100km cycle ride - I chose the 25km! The weather was horrible, pouring with rain and cold, not great cycling weather! The event even had its own celebrity taking part - Les Ferdinand, ex England, Tottenham & QPR footballer.

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Give & Gain Day

Last Saturday was Give & Gain Day which is the UK's national employee volunteering day. The scheme gives employees a unique opportunity to make a difference to the communities they live and work in. Shepherds Down Special Needs School in Compton, to the south of Winchester, was able to benefit from this as it was given a new lease of life by employees from OM Property Management who manage a number of properties in Winchester and Hampshire.

The volunteers armed with paint brushes and overalls spruced up the school's resting area and Woodland Trail made up of gazebos and wooden animals, giving the area a touch of colour. (L-R Luke Phillips, Emma Darch, John Benjamin, Lisa Terry, Mark Lancaster, Michael Udonwa, Esme Mcmenamin.) As the school spends 90% of its budget on staffing costs it has little left to undertake this type of project itself, so I am certain it was appreciated by the school and pupils.

Bishop Morley College

Bishop Morley College was built in 1672 as a charitable institution for widows of the clergy. It stands on the site of the monastery of St. Grimbald, founded in 898 by King Alfred.The property was rebuilt and extended in 1879/80.

Almshouses

This is part of the St John's Winchester Charity buildings, which provides care for older people in Winchester. It is one of the oldest charitable foundations in England as its origins can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon times. In the early nineteenth century it did not have enough accommodation, and this led to the building in 1830 of St John's South (pictured here) giving additional almshouses to the south of the High Street. There are now 27 flats here for local residents in need. As someone commented on another photo I have of Almshouses it is quite an old fashioned term, but these buildings still call themselves that even though they are really just accommodation for old people! Leeds Daily Photo recently featured an Almshouse and I think you can definitely see a likeness in the design - Click here to compare. 

***I am away this weekend in Salzburg (can't wait!) so have set up these scheduled posts whilst out of town. Sorry then if I don't respond to any comments until next week. Thanks for dropping by!***

Christ's Hospital

This is Christ's Hospital in Symonds Street which was founded by Peter Symonds, a very well known name in Winchester. The plaque on the wall says:

Peter Symonds was a wealthy merchant who founded a number of almshouses for the poor and is well remembered in Winchester. In addition to having a street named after him (Symonds Street) there is also a Peter Symonds College, an excellent 6th form college in Winchester and every year, on St Peter's Day, 29th June, an Evensong is held in Winchester Cathedral in his honour.

These 'almshouses' are now administered by the St Johns Winchester Charity who have a number of other buildings throughout Winchester that have featured on the blog. This one still provides five rooms for single people, widows and widowers over 50 and there are currently four women and one man in residence here.

St Cross Hospital

This is the chapel of St Cross. St Cross is not just a church, it is an almshouse (England's oldest) and houses 25 'brothers'. You can apply to become one and come to live here if you like. Criteria = male, over 60, single, no longer employed, low income. Interested? Click here

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