| Winchester is beautifully located in the | | | | given the title 'The Great'. |
| soft, rolling South Downs in the county of | | | | |
| Hampshire. One time capital of the ancient | | | | Another famous citizen of Winchester was the |
| English Wessex region, you can easily explore | | | | author Jane Austen. She spent her last few |
| its beautifully preserved buildings and parks | | | | months living in Winchester. You can visit |
| on foot. It really is the quintessential | | | | her tomb in Winchester Cathedral. The house |
| English town. | | | | she lived out her last days can still be seen |
| | | | in College Street. It is now a private |
| People settled Winchester thousands of years | | | | residence. |
| ago. They settled along, what is now called | | | | |
| the River Itchen, whose waters are crystal | | | | Visitors to Winchester include John Keats and |
| clear and sustain an abundance of fish and | | | | Anthony Trollope; both of whom wrote pieces |
| waterfowl. Indeed, you can see anglers | | | | that were set in Winchester. Right up until |
| fishing for trout within a five-minute walk | | | | the late Georgian period Winchester played |
| of the city. The Romans founded a garrison in | | | | host to the kings and queens of England |
| Winchester and it peaked under Roman rule | | | | during the summer months. |
| around the 4th century. The invading Saxon | | | | |
| tribes later remodelled it. Much of the | | | | Like these visitors of times past, you will |
| street layout is from this time. Later, after | | | | fall in love with this ancient and beautiful |
| the Norman Conquest, Winchester Cathedral was | | | | city. You can stroll about its medieval |
| built and during the Georgian period many of | | | | streets; admire its Georgian architecture and |
| the houses dating from the Middle Ages were | | | | marvel at its Victorian buildings and parks. |
| faced with brick and re-styled in the | | | | You can walk along the banks of the Itchen |
| neo-classical style favored by the Georgians. | | | | River. Its waters are still filled with trout |
| | | | and eel, all of which you can easily see |
| The most famous citizen of Winchester was | | | | owing to its crystal clear water. And, within |
| King Alfred the Great. He has been described | | | | 5 minutes, you can find yourself strolling in |
| as one of the greatest English men whoever | | | | green, unspoilt meadows. But, the jewel in |
| lived. He was a warrior, a devote Christian, | | | | the crown must surely be Winchester |
| a great statesman and a scholar. Alfred was | | | | Cathedral. It has been described as the |
| born in 849AD and ruled Wessex (most of | | | | finest cathedral in all England. There has |
| southern England) between the years 871 to | | | | been a place of worship on this site for |
| 899. He defeated the Danes and saved the | | | | about 1500 years! The architecture of the |
| southern half of England from the Danelaw. He | | | | building is exquisite and the cathedral |
| made Winchester his capital and set about | | | | setting is perfect; surrounded by greens and |
| rebuilding the city. Upon his death he was | | | | courtyards. Do go inside and marvel at the |
| buried in the city. You can visit the ruins | | | | stain-glass and the tombs of many of the |
| of Hyde Abbey, his final resting place. He is | | | | great who are buried there. |
| the only king of England ever to have been | | | | |