Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Winchester 14 September 2012

I arranged to meet a couple of friends from Vancouver who were visiting the UK.  They love cathedrals and architecture,  and Winchester was on their list.
I arrived early and wandered around.  It had been damp enough for a waterproof, but soon cleared up.


The view down the main street


Outside the Hampshire county council offices

The cathedral
From the front
We met outside the cathedral and decided to go for a walk round, have a look at the market, and grab a coffee.  By the time we returned there was a notice outside saying that the cathedral was closed  until 3pm, for a school service.  

So we walked around some of the older streets.  

Then along the shopping street.
Parody sign - King Alf raises a glass.
The market in the background - the real King Alf is hidden at he bottom somewhere

We visited the Great Hall with its Round Table, constructed in the mid to late thirteenth century - a bit late for Arthur.  Then outside to Queen Eleanor's Garden - a reconstruction of a medieval garden. 





Infra sunt nomina comitatus militum de com Soton (???)
Please do not sit on the judge's bench!
We had a quick look at the passages (sallie ports and garderobes ?) which, along with the great hall are all that remain of the castle, before returning to the cathedral for another drink, in time for the end of the service.


Unfortunately, the service had overrun, and we agreed to call the cathedral visit off.  
After Mary and Tony had caught the train, I strolled back to the market to buy some bread, cheese and Turkish Delight - always one for a balanced diet.





Silly signs time - no go?
Looking up the main street.
Memo to self - I'll try to home in on some stalls for photos next time!

4 comments:

Anne said...

Thanks for reminding me of my last'years november half-term's holidays ! I loved Winchester. Just like you we saw everything but the cathedral, but visited the one in Salisbury where there was a beautiful exhibition of realistic statues of varied people of all origins and social status, put in unexpected places around the cathedral and the cloister.

aliqot said...

My friends were staying in Salisbury, and I'm sure they visited that cathedral. I combined meeting up with another visit to Esther and co. I have been inside Winchester cathedral before, some years ago. The info about the diver (William Walker) who repaired the foundations is one of the things I remember most vividly.

The town is delightful.

Anne said...

Planning one or two more visits to England. In London for end of December, definitely. And still hesitating about a visit early in November (South or London...)

Chloe Greene said...

Delightful photographs Ali and clearly a good day in spite of closures!

I grew up in Norfolk and love churches and cathedrals.