Workhouse

Once again a photo of another service in Winchester that was closed and turned into a housing estate - although this originally used the be the Workhouse, so I can't really say we miss it!

The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 led to the building of a large number of workhouses as the law meant that no able-bodied person could get poor relief unless they went to live in a workhouse. The Winchester Union workhouse was built in 1836, an infirmary was later added and in 1912 a large nurses' home was erected at the south of the workhouse. In 1930 the workhouse finally closed and the hospital became known as St Paul's Hospital after the nearby church. 

 

The hospital closed in 1998 and was converted into houses and apartments, incorporating some of the original buildings. The tall chimney, the only one remaining in Winchester, was retained and is a well-known landmark. Below is a photo of the original workhouse.

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.

The Eclipse Inn & an execution

The Eclipse Inn was built in 1540. In its time it has been a house, rectory, ale house and inn in the 1800s.

The Inn has a connection with an execution in 1685 of Lady Alicia Lisle who was sentenced to death for harbouring rebels from the Monmouth Rebellion (against James II). The 71 year old, was sentenced to be burnt at the stake. Horrified clergy and citizens made such an outcry that the sentence was commuted to beheading.

For the execution, a scaffold was erected outside the Eclipse Inn and Lady Alicia spent the last day of her life in a small upstairs room, before being executed on a scaffold outside The Eclipse.

 
After James II fled the country Lady Alicia's daughters won an annulment of their mother’s conviction.
 
There have been repeated sightings down the years of a ghost in the room and passage outside where Lady Alicia was held.

A wonderful book called Time Gentlemen Please has a history of all the pubs of Winchester.