| Winchester is beautifully located in the soft, rolling | | | | Georgian period many of the houses dating from |
| South Downs in the county of Hampshire. One | | | | the Middle Ages were faced with brick and |
| time capital of the ancient English Wessex region, | | | | re-styled in the neo-classical style favored by the |
| you can easily explore its beautifully preserved | | | | Georgians.The most famous citizen of Winchester |
| buildings and parks on foot. It really is the | | | | was King Alfred the Great. He has been described |
| quintessential English town.People settled | | | | as one of the greatest English men whoever lived. |
| Winchester thousands of years ago. They settled | | | | He was a warrior, a devote Christian, a great |
| along, what is now called the River Itchen, whose | | | | statesman and a scholar. Alfred was born in |
| waters are crystal clear and sustain an abundance | | | | 849AD and ruled Wessex (most of southern |
| of fish and waterfowl. Indeed, you can see | | | | England) between the years 871 to 899. He |
| anglers fishing for trout within a five-minute walk | | | | defeated the Danes and saved the southern half |
| of the city. The Romans founded a garrison in | | | | of England from the Danelaw. He made |
| Winchester and it peaked under Roman rule | | | | Winchester his capital and set about rebuilding the |
| around the 4th century. The invading Saxon tribes | | | | city. Upon his death he was buried in the city. You |
| later remodelled it. Much of the street layout is | | | | can visit the ruins of Hyde Abbey, his final resting |
| from this time. Later, after the Norman Conquest, | | | | place. |
| Winchester Cathedral was built and during the | | | | |