Winchester Library

We have a great library here in Winchester in Jewry Street. It's actually called the "Winchester Discovery Centre" and as well as all the usual books it has 2 areas for exhibitions, a small auditorium, a cafe and many clubs and groups meeting here. This building, built in 1838, was originally the Corn Exchange where grain was bought and sold. In the early 1900s it went into decline and was used at various times as a dining hall, roller skating rink, sports hall, theatre and cinema. In 1936 the City Council, owners of the building since 1913, moved the Public Library here from the Guildhall extension, where it remains to the present day.

Hampshire Hog

Due to Hampshire's long association with pigs and boars, natives of the county have been given the nickname of Hampshire hogs since the 18th century. This particular Hog is outside of the Hampshire County Council offices which are situated here in Winchester.

Holy hole

Within the Cathedral is a small hole in the retrochoir leading into a tiny passage to nowhere. Its purpose is something of a mystery, however, it is believed to have been a recess through which pilgrims to St. Swithun's Shrine could crawl in order to get as close as possible to the great saint whose shrine for most of its lifetime was set above.

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

Pilgrim's School

The Pilgrim's School is a boarding and day school for boys aged 4-13. It is home to two professional choirs, the Winchester Cathedral Choristers and the Quiristers of the Winchester College chapel choir. The School moved to the present site in 1931. The main building, redesigned by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th Century, is on the site of a former Roman villa, and includes a medieval hall and barn.

As the main feeder to Winchester College, up to half of the boys in the top year move from Pilgrim's School to Winchester College each year. 

Memorial

Within the cathedral there a numerous memorials. This one is for Frederic Iremonger who was prebendary of the cathedral and died in 1820. A prebendary is a type of canon or cleric who has a role in the administration of the cathedral.

Post Box

May's theme photo at City Daily Photo is 'mailboxes' - I have already posted on the most interesting post box in Winchester not so long ago, so I thought I'd choose a different one. This a Wallbox style post box, it differs from a pillar box as it is not free standing. It bears the initials of the monarch at the time King George.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants