St Swithuns upon Kingsgate

Just through St Swithun's Gate we find a tiny church St Swithuns upon Kingsgate. Kingsgate is one of the ancient gates in the walls of the city of Winchester and this church is built upon it. Churches built over city gates were common in medieval times, but only a few survive today. The first mention of this church is in 1264 when citizens burned it down in a dispute with the Prior of the Abbey. It has been rebuilt and restored over the centuries. There is a staircase which takes one from street level to the Church itself.

St Swithun's Gate

Next to Cheyney Court is St Swithun's Gate, sometimes called Prior's Gate or Close Gate. This gate is the entry/exit to the Cathedral Close. They still close these gates at 10pm each night and a couple of times when coming out of the Wickham Arms Pub, I've found I am locked out of the city!

Bridge over River Itchen

The River Itchen is the main waterway that passes through Winchester. See more Sunday bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo

Wolvesey

There has been a bishop's residence at Wolvesey for over 900 years, beginning in the 10th century when St Aethelwold built a Saxon Bishop's Palace on this site. A new palace was built in 1110 and was added to over that century. In 1680 it was demolished after it was destroyed by the roundheads in the English Civil War and was rebuilt. The original old chapel was kept which we see to the right of the photo. In 1786 the palace was once again demolished and what remains today are the ruins (known as Wolvesey Castle) and the west wing (what you see in the photo).

The current Bishop of Winchester is Right Reverend Michael Scott-Joynt and this is where he lives, until sometime next year when he retires

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. 

Snow hits Winchester!

Snow finally arrived this morning in Winchester, after being told the roads were too treacherous to get to work (result!) I took the opportunity to get some wintry shots of the city. Here is the path to the Cathedral from The Square

ABC Wednesday & Theme Day - Time

As part of the City Daily Photo Theme Day of Time we have the clock at Winchester Cathedral. It's also 'T' at ABC Wednesday

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