Cottages

These cottages are Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 St Thomas Street. They are Grade II listed as are many in the street. That means in order to preserve their heritage the owners are very limited in the changes they can make to the buildings, both inside and out. There is a tablet in wall dated 1695.

*** Am on holiday & have scheduled these posts - back soon ***

Parkin House

This is Parkin House in St Thomas's Street. It was probably built around1805 by Henry Godwin, a solicitor. The property remained a solicitors, Godwin Bremridge & Clifton, until 1988 (the solicitors moved to number 12 just down the street) No 8 now houses ARUP a global firm of consulting engineers.

Dolphin Inn

On the corner of the High Street and St Thomas Street is a building currently a clothes shop called Joules. This building was built in 1883 originally as a pub, in a mock Tudor style. The pub was called the Dolphin Inn and there had been a pub of the same name on this site since medieval times. The Dolphin closed its doors in 1981 and I think has been a shop ever since. A closer look over the door you can see the name of the old pub and 2 fish-like creatures.

Hidden Houses

Set back from St Thomas Street are these interesting houses behind hedges. These hidden houses were built on the site of the church of St Petroc which fell into decay in the 14th century following the Black Death and was rebuilt in 1428 and re-dedicated to St Thomas the Martyr. This 2nd church was itself demolished in 1845. All that can be seen today of this church is the well-kept churchyard with old tombstones betraying its former use. I don't really believe in ghosts, but I'm not sure I'd want graves right outside my front door..!

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

Wickham House

It looks rather austere from this photo, this is Wickham House in St Thomas Street. It was built in the 18th century some time after 1750. Like other large houses in the street it is built almost directly onto the street. The blank window spaces are probably the result of the window tax of 1696 whereby properties were taxed on the number of windows they had, this was repealed in 1851. The Wickham in question is the Wickham family who have a memorial in the Cathedral. Wickham House has, since 1953, been used by business firms, currently it's the home of a solicitors.

** I am on holiday now for a week (for my nearest location see Llandudno Daily Pictures) so have scheduled some photos whilst away - sorry if I don't respond to any comments straighaway - thanks for stopping by **

Ginger Two for Tea

In St Thomas's Street is the cafe Ginger Two for Tea, which serves a very decent cup of tea. As an avid tea drinker I really cannot abide tea from coffee shops which just never tastes right. However tea from a cafe with 'Tea' in the name is bound to be good (can't comment on their coffee though!). It's very cosy in here as you can see from the steamed up windows. They serve food too, lovely cakes, biscuits and sandwiches using a lot of local produce. They allow well behaved dogs to come in, which unfortunately precludes ours!

Our Jack Russell - Billy

Mulberry House

I spotted this pretty 18th century house in St Thomas Street, apparently it is named after a mulberry tree in its garden which was supposedly planted by Charles II. From the late 19th century the house was owned by a banker, doctor, college don and admiral. In the 50s and 60s it was used as a Ladies' County Club. In the 1950s the upper floor of the house was converted into flats, but I understand from a comment on the post that it has now been converted back into one big house - it must be lovely!