Historic Winchester Guide - Castles - Britain Express

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Home > England > Hampshire > Castles > Winchester Castle Winchester Castle

History, tourist information, and nearby accommodation

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HERITAGE RATING:

HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS: Henry III's great hall is a superb building

'King Arthur's Round Table', Winchester Castle

Winchester Castle holds a prominent position in English history. It was built in 1067, within a year of the Norman Conquest. At the time, it was one of the greatest strongholds in England, and for over a century it served as the seat of government before that position was taken by London.

The castle was extended and rebuilt under Henry III, who added the Great Hall, and Edward II. In 1302 Edward and his second wife, Margaret of France, narrowly escaped death when the royal apartments of the castle were destroyed by fire.

Little remains from that early period, however. The castle was held by royalist forces during the English Civil War, and when the fortress finally fell to Parliamentary troops in 1646, Oliver Cromwell ordered its destruction.

Winchester Castle foundations

The site was later acquired by Charles II. It was Charles' intention to built upon this site a grand royal palace, called King's House, elaborate enough to rival the Palace of Versailles in France. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to begin building King's House, but plans were abandoned by James II. Today, only the Great Hall of Henry III (1222-35) survives, offering a glimpse of what the original castle must have looked like.

The Great Hall is an interesting building, built to a "double cube" design (that is, the height and width are exactly half that of the width. The interior measures 110' x 55' x 55'). Upon one end wall is hung a huge Round Table, reputed to be that of King Arthur, though recent investigation assigned a 13th-century date to the workmanship of the table. The table was repainted during the reign of Henry VIII.

Queen Eleanor's Garden

Behind the hall is situated Queen Eleanor's Garden, a delightful recreation of a small medieval garden.

Attached to the Hall is an enjoyable small museum depicting the history of Winchester through historic documents and photographs.

Across an open courtyard from the Great Hall are the scanty remains of the Castle foundations. Little can be seen above ground, though you can descend a steep, dimly lit stairwell that dives down into the castle cellar. A few feet from the exposed foundation in the photo above is Westgate, now a museum depicting medieval Winchester and daily life in the medieval period.

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About Winchester Castle Address: The Great Hall, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, England, SO23 8PJAttraction Type: Castle Location: In the centre of Winchester, just west of the market. Well signposted from the city centre. Website: Winchester Castle Email: [email protected] Location map OS: SU477294 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express

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HERITAGE

We've 'tagged' this attraction information to help you find related historic attractions and learn more about major time periods mentioned.

Historic Time Periods:

Medieval

Find other attractions tagged with:

13th century (Time Period) - castle (Architecture) - Charles II (Person) - Christopher Wren (Person) - Civil War (Architecture) - Cromwell (Person) - Edward II (Person) - Henry III (Person) - Henry VIII (Person) - James II (Person) - Medieval (Time Period) - Norman (Architecture) - Oliver Cromwell (Person) - Parliamentary (Historical Reference) - Royalist (Person) - William the Conqueror (Person) -

NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS

Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low to exceptional) on historic interest

Queen Eleanor's Garden - 0 miles (Garden)

Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum - 0 miles (Museum)

The Gurkha Museum - 0 miles (Museum)

Kings Royal Hussars Museum - 0 miles (Museum)

Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum - 0.1 miles (Museum)

Westgate Museum - 0.1 miles (Museum)

Winchester City Mill - 0.2 miles (Museum)

Winchester City Museum - 0.2 miles (Museum)

Nearest Holiday Cottages to Winchester Castle:

The Roost, Cheriton - 6.3 miles Cheriton, Hampshire Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £608 - 1880 Meon Boscage, Meonstoke - 10.6 miles Meonstoke, Hampshire Sleeps: 8 Stay from: £1223 - 4366 Coombe Place House, Meonstoke - 10.7 miles Meonstoke, Hampshire Sleeps: 15 Stay from: £1926 - 7193

More self catering near Winchester Castle

Winchester Travel Guide

Most Popular

• Jane Austen's House
• Winchester Castle
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Attractions

• Hyde Abbey
• King Alfred's statue
• Queen Eleanor's Garden
• St Swithun's upon Kingsgate Church
• Winchester School
• Wolvesey Castle

Museums

• Westgate Museum
• Winchester Cathedral: Kings & Scribes
• Royal Green Jackets Museum
• Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum

Winchester Accommodation

• Self Catering

Features

• St Cross Almshouse
• St Swithun biography
• Winchester City Walk

Travel Resources

• Getting to Winchester
• Hampshire Travel Guide

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Towns / villages

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Accommodation Self Catering in Hampshire

19 Quayside Walk Marchwood Sleeps 4, from £558 24 Baldwin Close Hartley Wintney Sleeps 5, from £1045 2A The Mews Langstone Sleeps 4, from £489 7 Church Lane Lymington Sleeps 4, from £509 Bailey Cottage Bursledon Sleeps 8, from £1410 More self catering in Hampshire

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