Hyde Abbey Garden

Hyde Abbey Garden, Winchester's Golden Jubilee project, was opened on 2nd June 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The garden is a to commemorate the last known resting place of King Alfred the Great, his Queen Ealswith and their son Edward the Elder. The 3 stone slabs mark the site of the 3 royal graves and the garden itself marks out the medieval church of Hyde Abbey which was founded in 1110 and dissolved and demolished in 1538. Hyde Abbey Garden leads onto the North Walls Park

Royal Wedding

So this isn't really a photo from Winchester is it... but couldn't let this moment pass without incorporating it in my blog!

Infact Winchester does have a small claim to fame in all the Royal Wedding fever - according to the Guardian Newspaper Winchester "could justifiably claim to be the most patriotic town in the UK with 23 applications for Royal Wedding street parties".

Personally, along with the majority of people in the UK, I like having a royal family with all the history attached to it and I hope William & Kate will be very happy together.

Pilgrim's Hall

In the Cathedral Close is the Pilgrims Hall. It was built around 1308 and is all that remains of a longer Medieval building, which was once the priory guest house that was used to house pilgrims to St Swithun's Shrine in Winchester. It is now part of Pilgrims School.

O is for Obelisk

Just around the corner from the Westgate is a monument erected in 1759 commemorating the plague of 1666.

During the plague it became the custom for country folk from outside of the city to bring their produce to this point outside the Westgate and leave them there. They would then retire to a distance while the citizens of Winchester came out to collect the produce, leaving their money in payment in a large bowl of vinegar in order to disinfect it. When they had gone back into the city through the Westgate the farmers and countrymen would come back and fish out the coins with pincers avoiding any possible infection.

For more 'O' related posts see ABC Wednesday

Bishop Morley College

Bishop Morley College was built in 1672 as a charitable institution for widows of the clergy. It stands on the site of the monastery of St. Grimbald, founded in 898 by King Alfred.The property was rebuilt and extended in 1879/80.

Afghanistan

Within the cathedral there are numerous military memorials throughout. Here is one in particular to the men of the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade who died in the campaign in Afghanistan in the 1870s.

Willow Tree

The Willow Tree pub is almost on an island with its picturesque rear garden in a triangular shape divided by 2 streams of the Itchen River. The pub originally belonged to the Winchester Brewery (sadly no more) and is now owned by Greene King. Recently under new management, on their website they refer to themselves as a Riverside Restaurant and Wine Bar and appear to be focusing more on food, their facebook page has some rave reviews of their steaks! Last year they placed a giant St George's flag covering the entire front of the pub in honour of England competing in the football World Cup (they probably shouldn't have bothered..!)