Judges bench

The Great Hall has been used as a court throughout the years. Sir Walter Raleigh was condemned to death here in 1603 (later reprieved). This is a 19th century judges bench which was used in the adjoining law courts.

Cryptic Post!

I wish I could post more on what happened near our house 2 nights ago, but I'm not quite sure what it was! The label of this post gives some clues and I have been scouring local websites such as this one or this to find out what went on, but nothing so far! At the time it was very tempting to take photos but my other half said I might get in trouble (see here)! The next morning we found something highly suspicious in the location of this photo and believe it must be somehow connected to the previous night's activity...

Avington Park

This is Avington Park in the village of Avington which is about 5 miles NE of Winchester. The house originally belonged to the Cathedral of Winchester until King Henry VIII granted the estate to Edmund Clerke. In the mid 17th centuary it was owned by George Brydges, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles II. He enlarged and updated the house to accommodate the King and Nell Gwynne.

The estate was sold in 1847 to Sir John Shelley, brother of the poet, and sold again to the Hickson family in 1953 who still own it today. Avington Park is available for weddings, corporate event, filming and is occasionally open to the public.

There was recently a crime committed at the property when a sundial worth around £100000 was stolen.

Murder

Whilst I was away on holiday there was a murder in Winchester. Stuart Horsman became ill at Winchester station on 3 August and died of internal bleeding in hospital, later that day. It's believed he had been assaulted some time earlier and 2 men have been arrested adn bailed on suspected murder.

I do recognise the chap who was murdered as he was regularly around the train station area and in and around Winchester, I think that he may have been homeless and understand from the press that his brother had previously died due to drugs.

Fortunately this kind of crime in Winchester is relatively rare.

This far and no further

This is Kingsgate, one of the 2 remaining city gates in Winchester. You cannot drive through this gate, as you can see by the concrete bollard that the car has parked in front of, however last week someone thought they'd give it a try...

(Photo - Hampshire Chronicle)

The driver was arrested and fortunately there was no damage to Kingsgate!

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

Law Courts

Yes Winchester is historic and pretty, but the real world is here too - next door to the Great Hall are the Winchester Law Courts, containing both the Crown and County Courts. The Crown Court deals with more serious criminal cases. Here are some of the latest sentencing from Winchester Crown Court:

17 December - Bank robber who threw cash away sent to mental hospital

7 December - Clocking of cars - spared jail term

6 December - Son guilty of manslaughter of his mother

1 December - Double Murderer jailed for life

24 November - Minimum 17 years for murder

Only 2 of these crimes actually took place in the Winchester area (fortunately the 2 least serious ones..)