Waypoints

1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 55 m
2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 50 m - Monday: 08:00 -16:00 Small, friendly place with delicious coffee. - Rost (Coffee)
3. 2 : km 0.74 - alt. 54 m - The Hampshire Jubilee Sculpture, by Rachel Fenner, is an allegorical structure, built to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002. Inspired by Winchester’s Castle and Cathedral and Hampshire’s rich natural resources, this sculpture is a meeting place with a timeless quality. The segments in the outer circle form a Round Table. One half, decorated with fleurs-de-lys and castles, symbolises the reign of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, during which time the Round Table was probably made. The other half illustrates religious presences using arches and arcades. The words relate to fundamental and continuous aspects of society; religion, prosperity and royal governance. The flowing design in the centre circle recalls the wet lands around Winchester Cathedral. The focal point, a large stone ‘Throne’ surrounded by three guardian figures, reflects Winchester’s position as a traditional home to monarchs and bishops. The ‘Alfred’ stone, with its Celtic design influences, symbolises ancient days and embodies the great King’s dedication to art, religion and defence of the realm. The ‘Mitre’ stone represents the authority and influence of the Christian Church. The ‘Overflow’ stone refers to the rich resources of Hampshire that assisted the early growth of this country and which continue today. The three ‘Moot Horns’, used in ancient times to call people together at a meeting place or Moot, celebrate 50 years since HM Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Interwoven round the ‘Throne’ are three of Hampshire’s rivers, sources of life and symbols of continuity. Rachel used Massangis Jaune, a hard french limestone, for the main elements and her palette of colours for the mosaics was influenced by medieval manuscripts. - Jubilee Sculpture
4. 3 : km 0.77 - alt. 58 m - Castle passageways
5. 4 : km 0.84 - alt. 62 m - Open every day between 10am – 5pm (Seniors £3.50) One of the finest surviving medieval aisled halls of the 13th century which was once part of the magnificent Winchester Castle. The castle was founded in 1067 by William the Conqueror shortly after his victory at the Battle of Hastings. In 1222 Henry III, with his love of architecture, began the construction of one of the earliest Gothic styled medieval halls. Admire the soaring Purbeck marble columns and beautiful Gothic pointed archways. The Round Table - Is an imitation of the legendary table around which King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table congregated, this table hanging in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle itself dates back to late medieval times. Constructed from English oak dates in the later years of the 13th century, the round tabletop hangs in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle, built under Henry III. Considered one of the finest surviving aisled halls of the 13th century, the Great Hall is all that remains of the medieval castle originally constructed for William the Conqueror in 1067. The round table is believed to have been made in about 1290, for a “Round Table” tournament (festival) near Winchester held to celebrate the betrothal of one of Edward I’s daughters. The tabletop measures 5.5 meters in diameter and weighs 1,200 kg. Though originally a table standing on legs, it has been displayed hanging on the west wall since 1873, when it was moved from the east wall where it had hung prior to that time (since at least 1540, and possibly since 1348). The artwork you see on the table today dates to the reign of Henry VIII who had the table painted with the Tudor Rose at its centre. The outer design is thought to portray Henry as King Arthur on his throne, surrounded by 24 places, each bearing the name of one of the legendary Knights of the Round Table. Queen Eleanor’s Garden is abundant with 13th century plants and scents. - Great Hall
6. 5 : km 1.03 - alt. 57 m - Closed for the winter The Westgate is one of two surviving fortified gateways in Winchester (the other is Kingsgate) formerly part of Winchester City Walls. The earliest surviving fabric is of Anglo-Saxon character. The gate was rebuilt in the 12th century and modified in the 13th and late 14th centuries, the latter including a portcullis in the western façade and two inverted-keyhole gunports (for use with hand-held cannon), the earliest in the country. The gate was in use until 1959 when the High Street was routed around it.[1] In the 19th century the City Corporation (now Winchester City Council) acquired the Westgate and began to use it as a museum and repository for the City archives. In 2014, ownership of the museum space was transferred to Hampshire Cultural Trust. Today, the Westgate Museum's displays include a famous collection of pre-Imperial weights and measures, and a fine painted ceiling made for Winchester College in anticipation of a visit by Mary Tudor and Philip of Spain on the occasion of their marriage in Winchester in 1554. - Westgate
7. 6 : km 1.27 - alt. 63 m - he Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm (Sunday Closed) Admission: Entry to the Rifles Museum is FREE - Royal Green Jackets (Rifles)
8. 7 : km 2.06 - alt. 36 m - Concession – £8 Cathedral: Mon–Sat: 9am–5pm Kings & Scribes: Mon- Sat, 10.30 - 4.30 When William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066, he began to install his own Norman bishops in place of the Anglo-Saxon bishops.[7] William installed his friend and relative Walkelin as the first Norman Bishop of Winchester in 1070, and nine years later, in 1079,[11] Walkelin began the construction of a huge new Norman cathedral, on a site just to the south of the Old and New Minsters, the site of the present building.[7][8] The new cathedral was consecrated with the completion of the east end in 1093, and the many tombs of Saxon kings moved from the Old Minster into the new cathedral. The following day, demolition of the New and Old Minsters began, and quickly progressed, leaving virtually no remains. The outline of the Old Minster can still be seen today to the north of the present nave. - Cathedral
9. 8 : km 2.21 - alt. 38 m - Concession £4.75 10:00 - 17:00 - City Museum
10. 9 : km 2.22 - alt. 38 m - From the cathedral, we made our way to Market Lane and turned left, following the street to where it becomes The Square. On the right (north) side of the street is the Eclipse Tavern, an attractive timber-framed building dating to the 16th century. This is one of the oldest inns in the city - and one of the prettiest. The Eclipse was originally a rectory for St Lawrence church, now half hidden amid the shops that line the passage between The Square and High Street. Opposite the Eclipse is a stone building on the site of the Old Market House. A plaque on the side of the building reminds us of one of Winchester's most dramatic and tragic moments. It was here in 1685 that Lady Alice Lisle was executed for treason, accused of harbouring supporters of the Duke of Monmouth after the Battle of Sedgmoor. Lisle, an elderly woman whose only offence seems to have been a desire to act charitably towards those in trouble, was tried by the infamous Judge George Jeffreys, and her trial kicked off what became known as The Bloody Assizes, which probably did more to turn people against James II than any other royal act. Now busy shoppers bustle past the site of Lady Lisle's execution in the centre of the street. - Eclipse Inn
11. 10 : km 2.96 - alt. 34 m - At right angles to Cheyney Court is an even older timber-framed building. This is Pilgrim's Hall, built around 1290 for pilgrims to the shrine of St Swithun in the cathedral. The pride of Pilgrim's Hall is an ancient hammer-beam roof, thought to be the oldest surviving such roof in England. To the north of the Hall is Pilgrim's School, established in the medieval period, but housed in 17th and 18th century buildings. Straight ahead we went, into the heart of the cathedral close. There are numerous historic buildings within the close, but none are regularly open to visitors. Straight ahead is The Deanery, a beautiful medieval building dating to the 14th century. Within the Deanery is a late 17th-century library formed from the medieval long gallery. Beside the Deanery, accessed through a 13th-century gateway, is Dean Garnier's Garden, a quiet walled garden that looks onto the north face of the cathedral. This gets my vote as the most beautiful secluded green space in Winchester! The garden stands on the site of the monks dormitory of St Swithun's Priory, and overlooks the ruins of the priory chapter house. The garden (actually three distinct garden areas joined together) commemorates Thomas Garnier, Dean of Winchester from 1840–1872. - Pilgrim's Hall
12. 11 : km 2.99 - alt. 34 m - Just before leaving the Cathedral Close, look up above Priory Gate and you'll see a miniscule Porter's Lodge, once used as a house by the cathedral organist. Immediately inside the gateway arch is Cheyney Court, one of the most photographed buildings in Winchester. This attractive timber-framed building dates to the 16th century and served as a venue for the Bishop's court for the Soke of Winchester until 1835. On the north side is a 16th-century stable block. - Cheyney Court
13. 12 : km 3.03 - alt. 34 m - Kingsgate is one of two surviving medieval city gates. Kingsgate is popular for two features; on the right as you pass beneath the arched opening is a small bookshop built right into the gateway. Pass through the arch and look left; there is a stair that takes you up to St Swithuns upon Kingsgate, a tiny medieval church built over the gateway arch. The church may have originally served as a chapel for workmen labouring on the cathedral. Today, it is one of Winchester's hidden treasures. There are fragments of medieval glass in the east window and several interesting memorials on the walls. Look for an unusual piscina built into a window ledge on the north wall. - St Swithuns upon Kingsgate
14. 13 : km 3.12 - alt. 33 m - Immediately west of the College at 8 College Street is a simple cream-coloured house with an unobtrusive plaque above the door. This is 'Jane Austen House', where the novelist lived immediately before her death. She lived at nearby Chawton, and only came to Winchester with her beloved sister Cassandra to seek medical care. Austen did not write any of her famous novels here; by the time she came to Winchester she was in very poor health, and she died on 18 July, 1817 and was buried in the Cathedral. The house is not open to the public, but for many Jane Austen fans this secluded little house is an essential stop on their 'Austen pilgrimage'! - Jane Austen's House
15. 14 : km 3.2 - alt. 33 m - The College was founded by Bishop William Wykeham in 1382. Wykeham served as advisor to King Richard II, and was one of the most powerful men in late 14th century England. The school was intended to provide students for New College, Oxford University, also founded by Wykeham. Over the centuries it became one of the most prestigious and exclusive public schools in England. - Winchester College
16. 15 : km 3.34 - alt. 33 m - Free entry Closed during the winter Wolvesey Castle was one of the greatest medieval buildings in England – the palace of the powerful and wealthy bishops of Winchester. One of the most important Norman palaces in England, it was built during a period when Winchester was second only to London as a royal and ecclesiastical centre. The palace remained in use until the 1680s, when Bishop George Morley decided to build a new palace nearby. The medieval Bishops of Winchester were rich and powerful men, the relations and advisers of kings. Wolvesey, standing a stone's throw from Winchester Cathedral, was their main residence throughout the Middle Ages. The extensive remains date largely from the great 12th century palace of Bishop Henry of Blois, brother of King Stephen. Though ruinous, the buildings still evoke an impression of their former grandeur. The last great occasion here was on 25th July 1554, when the East Hall was transformed with silk and gold hangings for Queen Mary and Philip of Spain's wedding banquet. - Wolvesey Castle Ruins
17. 16 : km 3.51 - alt. 33 m - At the head of the Itchen Navigation Canal, and once the city's principal grain mill. A mill has been on this site since the 12th century, but the present building dates from 1885. The South Downs Way passes in front of the building. - Segrim's Mill (Wharf Mill)
18. 17 : km 3.86 - alt. 36 m - National Trust Not open on Mondays There has been a mill here on the Itchen since Saxon times, when Queen Elfrida granted a mill to Wherwell Abbey. The mill passed to the crown at the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and was granted by Queen Mary to the City of Winchster to help defray the cost of her marriage here to Philip of Spain. The current building dates to 1743, though it incorporates bits of the medieval structure. - City Mill
19. 18 : km 3.93 - alt. 36 m - One of the most easily recognisable landmarks in Winchester is the striking statue of King Alfred the Great, which stands at the eastern end of The Broadway, close to the site of the city's medieval East Gate. The statue of a suitably heroic Alfred was designed by Hamo Thornycroft, R.A., and erected in 1899 to mark one thousand years since Alfred's death. The unveiling of the statue was quite a social event, proceeded by a procession through the packed city streets, and address by the Bishop of Winchester. The event was so important that it was reported in publications as far afield as the New York Times. The huge statue measures 17 feet from the base to the top of Alfred's arm. Curiously, the sword was made to be detachable, though the rest of the statue is a single, solid bronze casting. The statue is set atop a rectangular block of granite from Cornwall, with another tapered block acting as a base. Thornycroft's depiction of King Alfred must be taken as a bit of artistic license; the legendary warrior and lawmaker appears as a sort of romanticised Arthurian king with a thick, curling beard. This look is at odds with coins minted during Alfred's reign, which show him beardless. The Alfred Jewel, displayed in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, also shows Alfred to be clean-shaven. - King Alfred's statue
20. 19 : km 4.12 - alt. 36 m - Immediately east of the Guildhall, on the same side of the road, is Abbey House, an attractive 17th-century house that serves as the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester. Abbey House stands on the site of Nunnaminster, a monastery founded around AD 900 by Ealhswith, Alfred the Great's queen, on land given to her by Alfred to mark his coronation in AD 871. The monastery here was dissolved by Henry VIII and the property was sold. By 1700 John Pescod, the Recorder of Winchester, had erected a grand residence in red brick, surrounded by peaceful gardens. In 1889 the City Councillor bought the house and garden, refurbished the house as a mayoral residence, and opened the gardens to the public. - Abbey House and Garden
21. 20 : km 4.2 - alt. 36 m - The Guildhall is one of Winchester's most distinctive buildings; frankly, it is huge! The original city guildhall was beside the Buttercross, in a small chamber over the passage that leads to the cathedral. By the early 18th century it moved further up High Street (where the Town Clock is now), but in 1871 an imposing new building was designed by Jeffrey and Skiller of Hastings, in grand Gothic Revival style. The new Guildhall cost 16,000 pounds and was part of a complex serving as a courthouse, fire station, police headquarters, and a civic venue. Look up at the imposing clock tower and you can see a carving of the first Mayor of Winchester, Florence de Lune, receiving the city's charter from Henry II. The Guildhall now houses the local tourist information and art gallery, as well as exhibition and conference spaces. - The Guildhall
22. 21 : km 4.55 - alt. 39 m - From St Lawrence, we went up the passage to the High Street. To the right is the Buttercross, a marvellous early 15th century pinnacled market Cross in Perpendicular style. The cross is also known as City Cross, or simply High Cross, and was used as a focal point for a farmer's market. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, but the authorities were not always so keen to preserve it as they are now; in 1770 the Paving Commissioners sold it to into private hands. When the new owner tried to remove his property the citizens of Winchester rose up in arms, and prevented the cross from being taken away. The cross is adorned with a dozen figures, the four at lower level representing people associated with Winchester, including Alfred the Great, William of Wykeham, Lawrence de Anne (a medieval mayor of the city) and St Amphibalus, an early 4th-century Christian martyr who is said to have had a post-Roman church dedicated to him in Winchester. - Buttercross
23. 22 : km 4.63 - alt. 43 m - One of the town's most enduring symbols, a clock presented after a visit from Queen Anne in 1713. The clock is attached to a building which once served as the city Guildhall, or seat of local government. That role is now filled by a much larger and grander Victorian building at the bottom of High Street. - Town Clock
24. 23 : km 4.64 - alt. 44 m - This beautiful timber-framed building, now a shop, has nothing to do with either God or 'begetting'. Instead, the name is a mangling of Godbegeaton, which translates loosely as 'good bargain'. This area was a part of Winchester's main market area as early as the 11th century. The current Godbegot House dates to the middle of the 15th century. It was just one of several joined houses built by the Cathedral and let out to tenants. - Godbegot House
25. 24 : km 4.67 - alt. 44 m - Beside Godbegot House a narrow lane leads to the Royal Oak, a red-brick inn with a sign proudly proclaiming it to be the oldest inn in England. That claim to fame rests on a royal charter of 1002, when King Ethelred the Unready granted an estate here to his wife Emma as a wedding gift. Emma's estate included several dwelling houses as well as Godbegot House. Emma's son Edward, later known as 'The Confessor' spent part of his childhood in his mother's tenement here. Royalist supporters frequented the inn during Cromwell's Commonwealth, and the inn gained its prefix 'Royal' after the Restoration of Charles II to the throne after Cromwell's death. The Royal Oak is built over an ancient hollow-way, a sunken track worn by travellers. The cellars contain stonework that may pre-date the Norman Conquest. - Royal Oak Inn
26. S/E : km 5.34 - alt. 56 m

Useful Information

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