Hat Fair

I'll admit I was away for most of the weekend so did not go to any of the Hat Fair this year, however I do have one quick photo to add to the blog. It has been so wet, it has rained every day in July so far. I remember last year getting slightly sunburnt! No chance of that at the moment. I imagine the weather put off quite a few people unfortuantely.

What's on at the Cathedral

 

The cathedral is not just about religious services and history, it has a lot of events going on, in and around its grounds. Outside theatre performances from The Twits to Shakespeare, organ recitals, military bands, tours, talks, kids activities, art, farmers markets, concerts, Olympics related events. 

Apologies also for the lack of posts (that's if there's anyone out there still looking at this blog!) which I blame partly on the London 2012 Olympics which I have been involved in since 2010. I recently discovered that the Olympic Torch will be coming to Winchester, a few steps away from my house!

Our cinema

 

This is our cinema in Southgate Street. It's a small cinema with 2 screens, housed in a restored 19th century chapel.

Chesil Theatre

The Chesil Theatre was open as part of the Heritage Days event and we paid a visit. Behind the bar was this stone head. It's believed to be from the late 12th century made from limestone from the Isle of Wight. It's not certain whether the stone head was part of St Peter's Church (where the Chesil Theatre resides) but as St Peter's Church was certainly in existence in the 12th century.

Hat Fair

My last photo from the Hat Fair which took place last Friday-Sunday. Just a few more of the entertainers that were performing in the centre of Winchester around the High Street and Cathedral, also at Oram's Arbour and North Walls recreation park.

Weirdness at the Hat Fair

Continuing with last weekend's Hat Fair, this performance in front of the Cathedral was a bit Cirque Du Soleil with some extra weirdness thrown in for good measure! Not quite my cup of tea but it seemed very popular!

*** I am away for a few days so have scheduled these posts - sorry if I don't respond to any comments straightaway - for my nearest location please see http://whatisbelgium.blogspot.com/ ***

Hat Fair

More from the Hat Fair which took place over the weekend. This is the Southampton University Folk Band playing outside the Guildhall.

*** I am away for a few days so have scheduled these posts - sorry if I don't respond to any comments straightaway - for my nearest location please see http://whatisbelgium.blogspot.com/ ***

Hat Fair

Today, yesterday & tomorrow it is the Hat Fair here in Winchester. The Hat Fair is Britain's longest continually running festival of street theatre and outdoor arts. It has been running since 1974, and the 'hat' refers to the hats that performers passed round after their performance for donations.

Winchester is packed right now and here in the High Street we saw a performance by Matt Pang involving juggling, escaping from a straight jacket whilst riding a unicycle amongst other things!

Royal Logistics Corps Band

Yesterday there was an Armed Forces day at Peninsula Barracks. It was a beautifully hot and sunny day although I did feel sorry for the Royal Logistics Corps Band who were playing in this heat!

Southampton University Band

There always seems to be something happening in Winchester, and yesterday the Southampton University Concert Band were playing in front of the Cathedral. The students playing aren't necessarily studying music at the university, the band is more of a society within the university. They played a couple of Vaughan Williams pieces whilst I was there and were very good.

Royal Air Force Concert

Not a great photo in itself but I thought I would post it anyway...last night I went along to the Royal Air Force Festival of English Music concert held at the cathedral. It was a great setting with wonderful music from composers such as Elgar, Holst and Vaughan Williams played by Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. A great evening!

Steel Drums

Particularly on a weekend you will always find buskers and musicians in the High Street. They range from a tramp with a bongo drum, university students trying to raise a bit of extra cash to a whole steel band this weekend. They were really very good.

Assembly Room

St John's House had an open day at the weekend, and the most interesting part of the building is the elegant Assembly Room where wealthy citizens of Winchester would have danced, dined and listened to concerts by the likes of Niccolo Paganini and Franz Liszt who performed here.

A flyer shows details of Paganini's performance in 1832 at the venue

A review in the Hampshire Chronicle newspaper at the time was very appreciative "The well-known and wonderful talent of this highly gifted artist attracted, as we expected, a numerous and fashionable audience. His power over the instrument he professes beggars all description. It must truly be said of him, that on earth we shall not look upon his like again, for he certainly is like nothing earthly"

The room has beautiful chandeliers and original 18th Century stucco plasterwork. Not quite as well known as Paganini and Liszt, but performing during the open day was local pianist David Glynn.

Forgotten Emperor

The Winchester Discovery Centre (Winchester's Library) currently has an exhibition on "The Forgotten Emperor" that is the Roman Emperor Carausius. Winchester is more associated with the Saxons (King Alfred the Great etc) than the Romans, but long before the Saxons the Romans ruled Winchester, from 70-410 AD. In those days Winchester was called Venta Belgarum, meaning the marketplace of the Belgae (a local tribe).

In the late 3rd century AD the Roman British Feet was commanded by Carausius. Britain was often raided by pirates looking for treasure and slaves and it was Carausius's job to stop them. However there were allegations of corruption, theft and pirate deals, which lead to Carausius's execution being ordered by Rome. When Carausius learned of this sentence he responded by declaring himself Emperor of Britain and northern Gaul (France). He appears to have appealed to native British dissatisfaction with Roman rule, he issued his own coins printed with Restitutor Britanniae (Restorer of Britain) and Genius Britanniae (Spirit of Britain). However he was eventually assassinated by a rival in 296AD.

Unfortunately there is now very little that is visible of the old Roman town above ground in Winchester. At the exhibition there are a number of local finds, below some of the coins Carausius had minted

And a Roman Amphora found nearby in Southampton water

Forty Part Motet

Currently here at The Great Hall until 20 March is The Forty Part Motet which is a recording of forty separate voices of the Salisbury Cathedral Choir singing the Latin chant ‘Spem in Alium’ by Thomas Tallis (hear a version on You-Tube). Each individual voice is played back through one of the forty speakers positioned around the Hall. Standing in the middle it's really very impressive to hear the whole choir or move closer to each speaker to hear a single choral voice and The Hall is a great setting for this amazing sound.

The Forty Part Motet is the work of Canadian born artist Janet Cardiff and has been shown internationally at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Fondation d’enterprise in Tokyo and The Edmonton Art Gallery in Toronto.

Chesil Theatre

Continuing the theatre theme from yesterday here is our 2nd theatre, the Chesil Theatre . It is just opposite the Chesil Rectory, in - you've guessed it - Chesil Street. The theatre occupies St Peter’s Church which once stood outside the City gates in a row of houses serving a bustling community of tradesmen and craftsmen in Chesil Street.

The earliest mention of the church was in 1148. After the Second World War the church fell out of use and by 1960 was structurally unsafe. The Winchester Preservation Trust was formed at that time and its first objective was to save the building. Winchester Dramatic Society accepted an offer of the building rent free but with the responsibility of maintaining it. Ever since then this has been the home of the Chesil Theatre Company which is the premier amateur company in the Winchester area. With over 200 members the company produces 6 plays each year. Their current play is Wait Until Dark.

Just one more thing...

I used to love Columbo as a kid, yes I know the story was pretty much the same every episode.. We know the murderer from the start, the disheveled Columbo appears and works it out pretty soon too, we watch the criminal's reaction to the ongoing investigation as the intrusive but always polite presence of Columbo increases. The killer often "helps" Columbo with his investigation, eventually discovering too late that the Lieutenant is not nearly as simple-minded as he appears.

And now here at The Theatre Royal in Winchester we have a play version of the first ever episode of Colombo "Prescription Murder" - my opinion? It was great fun!

The Railway

The Railway pub is one of the top live music venues in Winchester. Many famous acts have played here in the past, including Razorlight, Gary Numan and PJ Harvey.

The pub was built in 1883 and it's thought that the music room was originally built as a stable for livestock being transported to the nearby railway station. One of the upstairs rooms is believed to be haunted by a lady dressed in Victorian costume.

Street Entertainment

And further on down the High Street were another Brass group with Clarinets and Saxophones. This time not collecting for charity, but there's nothing wrong with that!

Brass Band

Further up the High Street was another group. This time the brass band of the Salvation Army, playing by the Christmas Tree and Buttercross. There was actually a queue of other performers waiting to take their place next!