IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
WINCHESTER, SO23 8HS

This small garden, restored in 1986, is on the south side of Winchester's Great Hall.

This is Henry 3rd's Great Hall, the only significant remains of Winchester Castle, built in 1222. The room is a double cube, measuring 110 feet long by 55 feet wide by 55 feet tall. The roof was reconstructed as seen after a fire of about 1305. On the west wall, is the round table, constructed probably in Edward 1st's reign in about 1280, and painted in the early part of Henry 8th's reign in about 1510. For a closer picture see Image]

This is Henry 3rd's Great Hall, the only significant remains of Winchester Castle, built in 1222. The room is a double cube, measuring 110 feet long by 55 feet wide by 55 feet tall. The roof was reconstructed as seen after a fire of about 1305. On the west wall, is the round table, constructed probably in Edward 1st's reign in about 1280, and painted in the early part of Henry 8th's reign in about 1510. For a closer picture see Image]

This is Henry 3rd's Great Hall, the only significant remains of Winchester Castle, built in 1222. The room is a double cube, measuring 110 feet long by 55 feet wide by 55 feet tall. The roof was reconstructed as seen after a fire of about 1305. The door to the left leads to Queen Eleanor's garden.

This is Henry 3rd's Great Hall, the only significant remains of Winchester Castle, built in 1222. This is looking east towards the stainless steel gates erected to commemorate the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Surrounding the gates, the wall is painted with the names of the MPs who have represented Hampshire since the late 13th century, the time of Edward 1st. The roof was reconstructed as seen after a fire of about 1305. The door to the left is more recent, leading onto Castle Avenue, whilst the door to the right leads into Queen Eleanor's garden. These were named after either Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry 3rd, or Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward 1st.

Is this King Arthur's original round table? No. There probably never was one. But because of a revival of interest in the Arthurian legends in the late 13th century, Edward 1st had this constructed about 1280 (carbon dating of the wood confirms this date). It was probably built in the Great Hall, of 121 pieces of oak from seven oak trees, weighing one ton, four hundred weight. The twelve legs, plus the 13th central leg are missing. In the early part of Henry 8th's reign, about 1510, a revival of interest in Arthur caused Henry to have this painted. His father, Henry 7th, was anxious to establish his true right to the throne after the Wars of the Roses so links to Saxons and Britons were found. Henry 7ths first son was named Arthur, but after he died Henry 8th inherited the throne. To impress Charles 5th of Spain, his great European rival linked to Charlemagne, Henry had the table painted, with the Tudor rose in the centre and the names of the 24 knights of the round table around the outside. And is that Arthur's portrait at the top? No, it is a likeness of a young Henry 8th. 16th century spin. As can be seen in these pictures Image] and Image] it is too high off the ground to make a decent dartboard.

This is the bronze statue of Queen Victoria in the Great Hall, Winchester. It was made by Alfred Gilbert, who also designed Eros in Piccadilly, London, to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 1887. It stood outside in Winchester for a while, gaining the attention of pigeons, before being brought into the Great Hall after its use as a courtroom had finished.

The great hall has eight stained glass windows, four either side, like this one. They were installed in Victorian times. They each have 12 coats of arms representing significant Kings, Bishops, Lords and Barons with links to Winchester. Starting with the Saxon Kings on the south side, they each represent about a century of history and finish with Charles 2nd on the north side. This is the Tudor window, the sixth in the series.

Winchester. Hopefully not be 'sent down'