Halloween on its way!

I always think of Halloween as an American invention, or at least much more popular in the States! As a kid back in the early 80's I did go trick or treating once and a lot of people didn't know seem to know what we were doing! There are a few houses with pumpkins outside but around the corner from me I spotted this house really taking the Halloween theme seriously!

Barton Farm

If you've been to Winchester you may have seen in some windows posters saying 'Save Barton Farm'. Today it appears it was saved..for now. Barton Farm is an area of farmland to the north of Winchester where a property developer has wanted to build some 2000 new homes, shops, restaurants and offices etc since the late 1990s. Residents objected saying saying the city's roads, schools and services could not cope with so many new homes and the local council voted against the proposal. A planning enquiry then approved the plans, but yesterday minister Eric Pickles overturned the decision and concluded that the matter must be decided locally. Our member of parliament Steve Brine said "Ultimately it's about the sort of place we want Winchester to be and a judgement call as to when the city has extended far enough into its famous landscape setting." There is still the feeling though that somehow developers will have their way, so I don't imagine this is the end of this. The other side of the story is that Winchester is one of the most expensive places to live in the UK, affordable housing is scarce and this development would have provided some 800 'affordable houses'.

Theme Day - Under Construction

City Daily Photo's Theme this month is 'Under Construction'. Perhaps it's wishful thinking, but I am hoping that some time soon this building will be 'under construction', as it appears to have been like this for ages. This is Chestnut Mead in Kingsgate Road in the St Cross area of Winchester. Last year, after 4 years of previous attempts, plans were finally approved to turn this large Victorian house into a four-bedroom home and three flats. The plans split the local community, with around 30 residents objecting and a similar number backing the scheme. Most of the objections were due to the fact that 2 extra houses would be built in the garden. But a year later there are still no signs of work and it just looks rather run down. The house next door has been refurbished and is looking pretty good!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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 **

Friarsgate

Friarsgate - sounds nice doesn't it, makes you think perhaps of a church or an ancient city gate? Or perhaps even a 1960s car park. Winchester is not all cathedrals, history and monuments, we have our fair share of naff architecture and ugly buildings. This area is due to be redeveloped at some point.

St John's House

At the weekend St John's House had an open day. The house was built in the 14th century adding to an already existing St John's Hospital.

In the late 18th century the 1st floor of St John's House was dramatically altered when the roof was raised about 7 feet to provide an elegant Assembly Room where wealthy citizens attended balls, dinners and concerts.  As there was already enough light coming in from the existing windows it was felt unnecessary to create any new ones, so if you look closely at the 2nd floor you can see that there's no glass in the windows, they're imitation windows painted onto recesses. 

Since the end of the 18th century the building has been used as a law court, museum of stuffed birds, cinema, waiting room for the nearby bus station, restaurant and church. In 2009 the YMCA took over the lease and turned the building into a youth venue, however the upstairs rooms are available for hire for weddings and conferences.

F is for Fire Station

The 'F' has already fallen off as you can see and there's no need to replace it as today is the day the fire brigade leave Winchester. The building has been sold and will be developed into luxury apartments/houses. The fire brigade now has a new fire station on the outskirts of town. It seems that eventually all services occupying buildings in the centre of Winchester are moved out of town and their buildings sold off to be converted into housing. The military left their barracks some years ago (see here). We still have a hospital, police station and prison - they would make such lovely apartments...!

For more 'F' posts see ABC Wednesday

The Masons

Here we can see the Old Masonic Lodge of Winchester which was part demolished in 1990 to make way for the newsagents WH Smiths, but we still see today the masonic symbols on the outside.

Inside there the shop there are some interesting wall paintings depicting scenes from Winchester's history, for example the one below is the story of King Alfred and the burnt cakes. Not doing too well in his fight with the Danes, King Alfred was forced to travel anonymously and seek lodging in a peasant woman's hut. Not knowing he was the King she asked him to mind her cakes cooking on the fire, unfortunately King Alfred let his thoughts wander and the cakes burned, and the peasant woman gave her king a good telling off..not quite sure of the moral of the story ... don't let a King look after your cakes maybe?!

The second painting is of Bishop William of Wykeham building Winchester College

Serle's House

Serle's House in Southgate Street was built around 1730 as a private residence. The building has been in military use since 1781 when it was bought by James Serle who's son was a captain in the South Hants Militia who turned the family home into a command centre for the regiment. The house was later sold to the government in 1796. The building now houses the Museum of The Hampshire Regiment and the Offices of the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

The large garden to the front of the house is dedicated and maintained as a Garden of Remembrance to all Members of the Regiment who have died in action or whilst in Service with the Regiment.

Above the eyeline

This is actually Edwardian 'Mock Tudor' architecture which sits above Boots the Chemist. The 4 carved figures represent some of the Bishops of Winchester - St Athelwold, Henry Fox, Wakelin and William of Wykeham.

Again as in this previous post a lot of information can be found in the book Look Up Winchester

Cheyney Court

Cheyney Court always looks like it belongs in Disneyland! It's a beautiful 15th Century building next to St Swithuns Gate at the edge of the city walls. The house was the seat of the Bishop of Winchester during the Middle Ages where he held court & administered justice. In the spring the building is covered with gorgeous wisteria, I will pop back then to get another photo. 

Look Up Winchester

There is a great book called Look Up Winchester which gives the background of many of the building's in Winchester High Street above the eye line, where they are often unchanged for many years. Here is one photo above what is now Clarks Shoe Shop (see the boot to the right). Built in 1780 on the site of St Mary Kalender Church The White Horse Inn lost its licence in 1937. In 1808 Jane Austin wrote to her sister of an incident which occurred at this Inn when adulterous lovers met there, but were recognised by the landlady who was later called to give evidence at the scandalous divorce proceedings.

The book Look Up Winchester can be bought at: Amazon.co.uk