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