a market-town of England, the capital of Hampshire, is situate on the slope of a hill whose base is watered by the river Itchen, 66½ miles S.W. from London, 13 miles from Southampton, 29 miles from Salisbury, and 27 miles from Portsmouth. It returns two members to parliament; had a population, in 1851, of 13,704; and is divided into eight parishes. Its markets are held every Wednesday and Saturday, and its fairs on the first Monday in Lent, and 23rd and 24th of October, St Magdalen's on the 23rd of August, and St Giles' on the 12th of September. The latter was anciently the largest fair in England, and lasted sixteen days. From 1333 to 1363 Winchester was the great staple or wool-market of England, but its prosperity is now chiefly dependent upon its cathedral and college.
Winchester is the Venta Belgarum of the Romans, who latinized the name of the ancient Celtic settlement, Guent, or the "chalk downs," and connected their city by magnificent highways with Clausentum (Southampton), Sorbiodunum (Salisbury), and Portus Magnus (Portchester). It afterwards passed into the hands of the Saxons, and became the capital of Wessex. Alfred held here his Witan, and during the reign of Athelstan, six mints were established, while London had but three. After the Conquest, the city declined in wealth and importance; was seriously injured by fire in 1141; and pillaged by the son of the great Simon de Montfort in 1265. It was here that Henry VIII. entertained Charles V., the great Emperor of Spain and Germany, in 1522. It was taken by Sir William Waller in 1644, and in the following year by Cromwell himself, whose iconoclastic troopers made sad havoc with the decorations of its religious edifices. With Charles II. it was a favourite place of residence, and he even commenced the erection of an immense palace, from the designs of Wren, which was abruptly checked by his death; and the only portion completed is now used as the barracks.
Winchester was erected into a bishopric by King Kynegils in 635, who commenced a cathedral-church, which his son Kynewald completed. The present cathedral was commenced by Bishop Walkelin in 1079, and added to by Bishop Godfrey de Lacy (1189-1204), Bishop Edington (1345-66), and William of Wykeham, the last of whom has left the impress of his genius in the perpendicular work of the nave, and in the beautiful architecture of the chantry which bears his name. The extreme length of this noble building is 560 feet; its extreme breadth, 208 feet; length of nave, 250 feet; breadth of nave, 86 feet; height of nave, 78 feet; height of tower, 135 feet; length of choir, 138 feet. Among its numerous monuments are those of Dr Joseph Warton, by Flaxman; Sir George Prevost, by Chantrey; Dr Littlehales, by Bacon; Bishops Willis and Tomline; Miss Jane Austin, the novelist; and Bishop Morley. In the S. transept lies Izaak Walton.
Winchester College was founded by the great William of Wykeham in connection with his college of St Mary Winton at Oxford, and was intended as a preparatory school whose curriculum should adapt the scholars for their university training. The buildings were commenced in 1387 and completed in 1396. Wykeham's foundation has always held a high position among the public schools of England, and has contributed many illustrious names to the head-roll of English worthies. Thus, among its alumni have been—Archbishop Chicheley; Bishops Waynflete, Ken, and Lowth; Sir Henry Wotton; the poets Young, Collins, Otway, Somerville, Phillips, and Warton; Sir Thomas Browne; Lord Eversley; Archbishop Howley; and Sidney Smith.
the reign of Henry I., is said to have possessed no less than sixty churches, and they are still very numerous in proportion to its population. Of those which now remain the most interesting are St John's, with some portions in the Transition Norman style; St Maurice's, the tower of which belongs to another building; and St Peter's, Cheesehill. The City Walls are in tolerable condition, and, of the ancient gates, King's Gate and West Gate, temp. Henry III., will interest the archaeologist. Of Henry III.'s Palace (thirteenth century) the hall remains, and is now occupied by the county court officials. It is a noble chamber, 110 feet long and 45 broad, divided into aisles by a double row of pillars and arches. Here is preserved the so-called round table of King Arthur, which, in reality, dates from the early part of the sixteenth century.
The Castle itself was originally raised by the Conqueror, but rebuilt and enlarged by Henry III., who had been born in it in 1206. In the area in front was beheaded (A.D. 1330) Edmund, earl of Kent.
The celebrated Hospital of St Cross lies about one mile from the city. It was founded in 1136 by Bishop Henry de Blois, and remodelled by Cardinal Beaufort (1404-47) as "the Almshouse of Noble Poverty," for the maintenance of two priests, thirty-five brethren, and three nuns. Its revenues were for many years directed from their original destination, but in 1855 a new scheme was framed by the Court of Chancery, and the Hospital now supports thirteen brethren who wear the distinctive costume of a long black gown with a silver cross on the right breast. Any wayfarer may apply for, and will receive, the Wayfarer's Dole,—namely, a slice of bread and a horn of beer.
The county Bridewell occupies the site of Hyde Abbey originally founded by King Alfred, who was buried within its precincts. Its revenues, at the Dissolution, amounted to L.865. Alfred's tombstone has been removed to Corby Castle, Cumberland. The picturesque ruins of Wolvesey Castle, (Ulf's, or Wolf's, ey, or island) demolished by Cromwell in 1645, give but a faint idea of its ancient splendour. It was built by Bishop Henry de Blois 1138, and received Philip of Spain and Queen Mary on the occasion of their nuptials.
Among other objects of interest, we may mention generally Bishop Morley's College, founded in 1672, for the support of ten clergymen's widows; Christ's Hospital, established by James Symons, for the maintenance of six unmarried men, and the board and education of four poor boys; the pent house; the market house; corn exchange; town hall; and the city cross.
(W.H.D.A.)