English Naturally Since 1999

02

Out-and-about Guides
A series of self-guided local excursions on foot or using public transport for English Naturally visitors.

Winchester from top to bottom

A short walk from the top of the city to the A

bottom taking in some of Winchester’s special

places.
B
Highlights The Great Hall, Westgate, Butter
Cross, Dean Garnier Garden, Abbey
Gardens, City Mill
Total distance 1.9 miles (3km)

Time needed 2 hours C

D
Starting point Hilliers Garden Centre
E
(opposite Winchester Hospital)
Bus routes 5, 66 and P+R

Watering holes The Eclipse (pub) H G F

Cathedral Refectory (teas/lunches) I

Directions
J
1. From Hilliers Garden Centre head down the hill
towards the city centre, passing the Victorian building
K
of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital (A) on your
right and Winchester Prison on your left. If necessary,
use the pedestrian crossing to make sure you are on
great views from the roof, if it is open.
the hospital side of the road.
6. From the Westgate walk down the hill into the
2. Keep going down the hill and you will soon see the
shopping area until you reach the Butter Cross (F).
entrance to the Police Headquarters. Immediately
Turn right and go through the passage into Great
opposite the Police Headquarters are the gates to the
Minster Street towards the Cathedral, looking out for
quiet and secluded St James Roman Catholic Cemetery
the entrance to St Lawrence’s Church (G) tucked away
(B).
on the left.
3. Continue down the hill and cross over the railway,
7. Cross the into the Cathedral grounds and, keeping the
then turn right into Queens Court leading to Peninsula
Cathedral (H) on your left, continue around into the
Square (C) with its five Military Museums. The
Close and walk around the green until you see a small
barracks were closed in 1985 and are now private flats.
door labelled Dean Garnier Garden (I). You may enter
Leave Peninsula Square the way you came in and turn
this tranquil walled garden which was created on the
right to continue down the hill towards the Westgate.
site of the monks’ dormitory.
4. At the roundabout by the Westgate Hotel, turn right
8. Leave the Dean Garnier Garden and turn right and
to visit the Great Hall (D) which was still in use for
right again to go around the back of the Cathedral.
criminal trials into the 1970s. Now it is a museum
Turn right into Colebrook Street and then after 30m
about the history of Winchester and inside you will
turn left through a gate into the Abbey Gardens (J).
find the famous Round Table.
9. Cross the gardens diagonally to emerge onto the
5. When leaving the Great Hall, take a few minutes to
Broadway near the statue of Alfred the Great. Turn
look at the excavated remains of the medieval city
right across the bridge to the Winchester City Mill (K).
wall, before going back to the Westgate (E) with its
museum about Winchester in Tudor times. There are

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A Royal Hampshire County Hospital was opened in 1868 and features a red brick façade typical
of the gothic style of architecture popular in the Victorian period. Queen Victoria herself contributed
to the building costs, giving the hospital its ‘Royal’ name.

B St James Catholic Cemetery is in a tranquil and secluded position raised above the level of the
road. There are many interesting tombstones including those of the Tichborne family who remained
true to the Catholic faith during the English Reformation in the 16th century.

C Peninsula Square, now private housing, is the site of the former Army Training Regiment known as
Peninsula Barracks. The barracks closed in 1985. As well as private housing there are five military
museums at the site: Horsepower, the Regimental Museum of the King’s Royal Hussars; The Royal
Hampshire Regiment Museum; The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum; The Gurkha Museum; and
The Guardroom Museum, the Museum of the Adjutant-General’s Corps.
http://www.winchestermilitarymuseums.co.uk

D The Great Hall is one of the finest surviving medieval halls. Dating from the 13th century it is all
that now remains of Winchester Castle. The castle was originally constructed for William the
Conqueror in 1067. The original hall was replaced in 1235 by the Great Hall we see today. The castle
was demolished during the English Civil war, but the hall was kept as a venue for assemblies and trials.
It was most recently used for the trial of IRA members in 1973. Now the Great Hall is a museum where
you can see the famous Round Table of Arthurian mythology.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/greathall.htm

E The Westgate is the last of the medieval gates into the city. It has been refurbished as a museum to
show the Winchester of the Tudor and Stewart era. For 150 years the Westgate was used as a debtor’s
prison and prisoner’s graffiti is visible on the walls. For a small price it is possible to make a brass
rubbing to take away.
http://hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/westgate-museum

F The Butter Cross features twelve holy figures and dates from the 15th century, although an earlier
holy cross is thought to have marked the site. The present Butter Cross was restored in 1865. Its
location in the High Street and its octagonal steps were ideal for market traders to sell their products
of butter, cheese, eggs and milk to the citizens of Winchester.

G The original medieval church of St Lawrence is said to have been adopted as the chapel to William
the Conqueror’s palace. The current church has an unusual square design and a fine 17th century ‘king
-post’.

I Created on the site of the dormitory of the Benedictine monastery, the walled Dean Garnier
Garden is a hidden gem. It is a place of stillness and beauty and well worth a visit.

J The Abbey Gardens and Mill were part of St Mary’s Abbey which was demolished during the
Dissolution of the Monasteries. The site was given to the city by Queen Mary Tudor to mark her
marriage to Philip of Spain in Winchester Cathedral in July 1554.

K Winchester City Mill is a working watermill powered by the River Itchen. The original medieval
mill was rebuilt in 1743 and remained in use until the early 20th century. Today it is a museum where
you can see the mill working and even buy flour that has been ground on the premises.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill

Rev:OA02-2015-294