Explore the towns of England
 

Welcome to our Oxfordshire Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

Article #116: Winchester Is A Perfect Place for a Weekend Break

(Browse for more articles)

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






1 - A - B - C - D - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 -