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Winchester Cathedral

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

A see as early as 662, Winchester was home to St. Swithin, an early bishop. His wish to be buried outside was politely ignored when he died. The early church was rebuilt beginning in the late 11th century under Walchelin, the first Norman bishop. He chose a very unpromising site; the ground was so marshy that thousands of wooden piles had to be driven into the ground to make it solid enough to build what was then the longest church in Europe. When William Rufus died in the New Forest in 1100 he was buried beneath the tower crossing. The tower promptly fell down, causing widespread concern that heaven disapproved of the unpopular king's resting place. Such was Winchester's importance in the Middle Ages that the cathedral was used as many as three times a year for royal court functions. Winchester's greatest bishop was William of Wykeham, founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford, who began the rebuilding of the Norman nave. Look up above the piers; there you can see metal brackets that were used to hang tapestries. Winchester is also rich in chantry chapels, the tombs of the bishops. In the presbytery there are mortuary chests containing the bones of Saxon kings and bishops. When Parliamentary troops despoiled the cathedral during the Civil War, they used these bones as missiles to break up the stained glass windows. more details ...
Winchester, Hampshire, England, SO23 9LS

About Winchester Cathedral
Attraction Type: Cathedral
Website: Winchester Cathedral
Email: cathedral.office@winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Phone: 01962 857 200
Fax: 01962 857 201
Location map
OS SU482 292
Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express
Heritage Rating:   ?

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information

Nearest Attractions Guildhall Gallery - 0.1 miles (Museum) Wolvesey Castle (Bishop's Palace) - 0.2 miles (Castle) Winchester Castle - 0.3 miles (Castle) Queen Eleanor's Garden - 0.3 miles (Garden) Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum - 0.3 miles (Museum) Winchester City Mill - 0.4 miles (Museum) Flowerdown Barrows - 2.2 miles (Prehistoric) Northington Grange - 6.6 miles (Historic House)

Nearest Towns and Villages Winchester - 0.2 miles away Compton - 20.4 miles away Salisbury - 21.2 miles away Walderton - 22.3 miles away Trotton - 22.4 miles away Aldermaston - 23.4 miles away Midhurst - 25.8 miles away Fernhurst - 26 miles away

Nearest Accommodation to Winchester Cathedral

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Foords Barn - 11 miles from Winchester Cathedral Broughton, Hampshire Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £320

Spinniker - 13.3 miles from Winchester Cathedral Hythe, Hampshire Sleeps: 7 Stay from: £490

Captains House - 13.6 miles from Winchester Cathedral Hythe, Hampshire Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £535

More Self Catering near Winchester Cathedral

Nearest Hotels

Mercure Wessex Winchester - 0.1 miles from Winchester Cathedral Winchester, Hampshire Stay from: £69.00

Hotel du Vin and Bistro Winchester - 0.2 miles from Winchester Cathedral Winchester, Hampshire Stay from: £109.00

The Winchester Royal - 0.2 miles from Winchester Cathedral Winchester, Hampshire Stay from: £75.00

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Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Wykeham Arms - 0.3 miles from Winchester Cathedral Winchester, Hampshire From: £65.00

Westgate Inn - 0.4 miles from Winchester Cathedral Winchester, Hampshire From: £65.00

31 Queens Road - 0.8 miles from Winchester Cathedral Winchester, Hampshire From: £40.00

More bed and breakfasts near Winchester Cathedral

Winchester
Tourist Information Centre
Guildhall
High Street
Winchester
Hampshire
England
SO23 9GH
Tel: 01962 840 500
Fax: 01962 850 348
Email: tourism@winchester.gov.uk
Web: http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/
Map