Winchester's streets were laid out again in the late 9th century, when King Alfred the Great replaced the Roman street plan with a new grid to defend the city against the Vikings. William the Conqueror founded a castle here in 1067, and a new cathedral was begun in 1079; built between 1079 and 1532, it is the longest Gothic cathedral in Europe. Henry III was born at the castle, the novelist Jane Austen is buried in the cathedral, and a Round Table made in the 13th century still hangs in the Great Hall.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Romans
AD 43 – 410
Around AD 70
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A Roman rampart
Around AD 70 the Romans built a massive earth rampart at Winchester, 800 ft (240 m) long and 200 ft (61 m) wide.
From the records: “Around AD 70 the Romans constructed a massive earth rampart 800 ft (240 m) long and 200 ft (61 m) wide.”
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
Late 800s
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Alfred's new streets
In the late 9th century King Alfred the Great rebuilt Winchester. He swept away the Roman street plan and laid out a new grid, to give the city better defence against the Vikings. The city today still has this shape.
From the records: “The present form of the city dates from reconstruction in the late 9th century, when King Alfred the Great obliterated the Roman street plan in favour of a new grid in order to provide better defence against the Vikings.”
Early 900s
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Nunnaminster and the New Minster
In the early 10th century two new religious houses were started: the convent of Nunnaminster, founded by Alfred's widow Ealhswith, and the New Minster.
From the records: “In the early 10th century there were two new ecclesiastical establishments: the convent of Nunnaminster, founded by Alfred's widow Ealhswith, and the New Minster.”
Later 900s
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The Lockburn drain
Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester was a leader of the movement to reform monasteries in the later 10th century. He created a drainage system called the Lockburn, which was the town drain until 1875 and still survives.
From the records: “Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester was a leading figure in the monastic reform movement of the later 10th century.”
Late 900s
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Saint Swithun's church
In the late 10th century the Old Minster was made bigger, as a centre for honouring Saint Swithun, a 9th-century Bishop of Winchester.
From the records: “Also in the late 10th century, the Old Minster was enlarged as a centre of the cult of the 9th century Bishop of Winchester, Saint Swithun.”
1035
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King Cnut's bells
King Cnut gave two bells to the Old Minster, where he was buried in 1035. Neither of the bells survives.
From the records: “It is recorded that King Cnut gave two bells to the Old Minster where he was buried in 1035, though neither of these bells survive.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1067
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Winchester Castle
William the Conqueror founded Winchester Castle in 1067. For over one hundred years it was the seat of government of the Norman kings.
From the records: “Winchester Castle was a royal residence in Winchester, Hampshire, England, founded in 1067 by William the Conqueror.”
1079
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A new cathedral
After he invaded England in 1066, William the Conqueror put in his own bishops. In 1070 he made his friend and relative Walkelin the first Norman Bishop of Winchester, and in 1079 the new cathedral was begun. Today it is the longest Gothic cathedral in Europe.
From the records: “When William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066, he began to install his own bishops in place of the Anglo-Saxon bishops.”
1093
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Kings' tombs move in
The new cathedral was consecrated in 1093, when its east end was finished. Many tombs of Saxon kings were moved into it from the Old Minster.
From the records: “The new cathedral was consecrated with the completion of the east end in 1093, and the many tombs of Saxon kings moved from the Old Minster into the new cathedral.”
1100
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William Rufus
The transepts and central tower were certainly finished by 1100, when William Rufus was buried under the tower.
From the records: “Work quickly progressed to the transepts and central tower, and these were certainly complete by 1100 when William Rufus was buried underneath the crossing tower.”
1107
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The tower falls
In 1107 the cathedral's central tower fell. It was rebuilt in the Norman style, and today rises only one storey above the roof of the nave.
From the records: “Work to the nave was probably interrupted in 1107 when the central tower fell, but was restarted following reconstruction of the tower, and completed before the death of William Giffard, who was bishop of Winchester from 1100 to his death in 1129.”
1141
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The Rout of Winchester
In 1141, during the Anarchy, the forces of the Empress Matilda were besieged at Winchester Castle by the forces of King Stephen. This is known as the Rout of Winchester.
From the records: “In 1141, during The Anarchy, forces of the Empress Matilda were besieged by the forces of King Stephen at the castle, in the Rout of Winchester.”
By 1148
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Jewish Winchester
Jewish people lived in Winchester from at least 1148. In the 13th century the city's Jewish community was one of the most important in England.
From the records: “Jews lived in Winchester from at least 1148, and in the 13th century the Jewish community in the city was one of the most important in England.”
1202
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A new east end
In 1202 Bishop Godfrey de Luci began a new part of the cathedral behind the high altar, called the retroquire, in the Early English Gothic style. It was built between 1202 and about 1220.
From the records: “The first alteration to Walkelin's cathedral was in 1202 when Bishop Godfrey de Luci started construction of a new Early English retroquire.”
1222–1235
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The Great Hall
Between 1222 and 1235 King Henry III, who was born at Winchester Castle, added the Great Hall. It was built to a 'double cube' design, 110 ft long, 55 ft wide and 55 ft high, and still stands in this form.
From the records: “Between 1222 and 1235, Henry III, who was born at Winchester Castle, added the Great Hall, built to a "double cube" design, measuring 110 ft (33.53 m) by 55 ft (16.76 m) by 55 ft (16.76 m).”
1220s–1290
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Hard times for Winchester's Jews
In the 1220s and 1230s there were a series of false 'blood libel' accusations against Winchester's Jewish community. They were probably the cause of the hanging of the community's leader, Abraham Pinch, in front of the synagogue he led. Simon de Montfort ransacked the Jewish quarter in 1264, and in 1290 all Jews were expelled from England.
From the records: “There were a series of blood libel claims against the Jewish community in the 1220s and 1230s, which was probably the cause of the hanging of the community's leader, Abraham Pinch, in front of the synagogue of which he was the head.”
1287
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Writing on the castle wall
On 2 May 1287 the whole Jewish community was imprisoned, ahead of a huge tax on the Jews by Edward I. That year Asher, the son of Licoricia of Winchester, wrote a Hebrew inscription on the ruins of the Jews' Tower, which is part of the castle.
From the records: “In 1287, Asher, who was Licoricia of Winchester's son, wrote a Hebrew inscription on the ruins of the Jews' Tower which forms part of the castle.”
1330
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The oldest window
The oldest stained-glass window in the cathedral is in the north transept, and dates from 1330.
From the records: “The oldest stained-glass window in the cathedral is in the north transept, dating from 1330.”
1346
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A new west front
In 1346 Bishop Edington knocked down the Norman west front of the cathedral and began a new one in the Perpendicular Gothic style, with a huge west window that still stands. From 1346 to 1420 the nave was remodelled in the same style, with much of the old Norman work kept inside new stone.
From the records: “The next expansions and rebuilding took place the mid 14th century, when in 1346, Bishop Edington demolished the Norman west front and began building a new Perpendicular Gothic facade, featuring a huge west window, which still stands today.”
By 1463
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King Arthur's Round Table
King Arthur's Round Table has hung in the Great Hall since at least 1463. The table really dates from the 13th century, and many tourists come to see it.
From the records: “It is famous for King Arthur's Round Table, which has hung in the hall from at least 1463.”
1472
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A royal baby
The castle remained an important royal home, and on 10 April 1472 Margaret of York, daughter of King Edward IV, was born there.
From the records: “Winchester Castle was a royal residence in Winchester, Hampshire, England, founded in 1067 by William the Conqueror.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1522
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Painted for Henry VIII
The Round Table was not painted at first. In 1522 it was painted for Henry VIII, with the names of King Arthur's knights around the edge.
From the records: “The table was originally unpainted, but was painted for Henry VIII in 1522.”
1539
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The priory surrenders
In 1539 the cathedral's priory surrendered to the king.
From the records: “The priory surrendered to the king in 1539.”
1558
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The castle goes to the city
After Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, the castle stopped being a royal home and was handed over to Winchester's city authorities.
From the records: “After Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, the castle ceased to be a royal residence and was handed over to Winchester's city authorities.”
1603
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Sir Walter Raleigh's trial
On 17 November 1603 Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for treason in the Great Hall, for his supposed part in a plan called the Main Plot.
From the records: “On 17 November 1603 Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for treason for his supposed part in the Main Plot in the converted Great Hall.”
1642–1649
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The Civil War
In December 1642 Parliamentarian soldiers destroyed much of the cathedral's medieval glass and imagery, including almost all of the Great West Window. The castle was used by the Royalists, fell to the Parliamentarians in 1646 and was demolished on Oliver Cromwell's orders in 1649.
From the records: “The 17th century saw important changes to the interior, including the erection of a choir screen by Inigo Jones in 1638–1639, the insertion of a wooden fan vault underneath the crossing tower (previously the tower was open to the church) and the destruction of much medieval glass and imagery by Parliamentarian soldiers in December 1642, including the near-complete destruction of the massive Great West Window by Cromwell and his forces.”
Later 1600s
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A palace that was never finished
Later in the 17th century Charles II planned to build the King's House next to the castle site. He asked Christopher Wren to design a royal palace to rival the Palace of Versailles, but James II gave up the project.
From the records: “Later in the 17th century, Charles II planned to build the King's House adjoining the site, commissioning Christopher Wren to design a royal palace to rival the Palace of Versailles, but the project was abandoned by James II.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1770
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Selling the Buttercross
The City Cross, also called the Buttercross, dates from the 15th century and has 12 statues. In 1770 Thomas Dummer bought it from the Corporation of Winchester, planning to put it up again at Cranbury Park, near Otterbourne.
From the records: “The City Cross (also known as the Buttercross) has been dated to the 15th century, and features 12 statues of the Virgin Mary, other saints and various historical figures.”
1780s
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Milner Hall
Milner Hall was built in the 1780s. It was the first Catholic church to be consecrated since 1558.
From the records: “Next to it is Milner Hall, built in the 1780s, which was the first Catholic church to be consecrated since 1558.”
1817
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Jane Austen
The novelist Jane Austen died in Winchester on 18 July 1817. She was buried in the north aisle of the cathedral's nave, and many visitors still come to see where she rests.
From the records: “The novelist Jane Austen died in Winchester on 18 July 1817 and is buried in the cathedral.”
1819
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John Keats
The poet John Keats stayed in Winchester from mid-August to October 1819, and wrote works there including 'Isabella'.
From the records: “While staying in Winchester from mid-August to October 1819, the Romantic poet John Keats wrote "Isabella", "St.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1854
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An organ from the Great Exhibition
In 1851 Henry Willis and Sons built a very large organ for the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London. The cathedral bought it for £2,500, and it was installed at Winchester in 1854, made slightly smaller.
From the records: “The present organ has its core dating back to 1851, when a very large instrument was built by Henry Willis and Sons for the Great Exhibition, held at The Crystal Palace, London.”
1865
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The Buttercross restored
The Buttercross was restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1865, and it still stands in the High Street.
From the records: “The Buttercross itself was restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1865, and still stands in the High Street.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1905–1911
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The diver who helped save the cathedral
By the summer of 1905 the cathedral was in grave danger of collapse. In the spring of 1906 it was still moving and sinking, and Fox, one of the men working on the repairs, sent for a diver, William Walker, who arrived from London on 5 April 1906. When his work was finished in 1911, water could be pumped out safely without disturbing the foundations, and flying buttresses were added along the south side of the nave.
From the records: “At the turn of the 20th century, Winchester Cathedral was in grave danger of collapse, and by the summer of 1905, the Dean, William Furneaux, was facing the imminent ruin of the building.”
1912
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A thank-you service
On St Swithun's Day in 1912 a special service was held, attended by the King and Queen, to give thanks for the work of Jackson, Fox and Walker.
From the records: “A special service was held on St Swithun's Day in 1912, attended by the King and Queen, to give thanks for the work of Jackson, Fox and Walker.”
1921
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Twelve bells
In 1921 two new bells were added to the cathedral tower, making twelve. It was the first ring of twelve bells in Hampshire.
From the records: “In 1921, the bells were augmented to twelve with the addition of two new treble bells, cast by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon, to give Hampshire and the Diocese of Winchester its first ring of twelve bells.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1974
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The Hat Fair
Since 1974 Winchester has held the Hat Fair every year: a celebration of street theatre, with performances, workshops and gatherings around the city.
From the records: “Since 1974 Winchester has hosted the annual Hat Fair, a celebration of street theatre that includes performances, workshops, and gatherings at several venues around the city.”
1992
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A world first for bells
By 1991 the tower needed repairs. At the same time, the bells were made into the world's first diatonic ring of fourteen, with two new bells cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1992.
From the records: “By 1991, restoration was required again, though this time it was the tower that required attention.”
2012–2019
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A big repair
In 2012 fundraising began for a £19 million programme to repair and expand the cathedral. The project ended on 21 May 2019, when the Kings and Scribes exhibition opened in the south transept and all the scaffolding was taken away.
From the records: “During September 2012, fundraising began for a planned £19 million programme of repair and expansion.”
2022
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A statue of Licoricia
On 10 February 2022 a statue of Licoricia of Winchester, described as 'the most important Jewish woman in medieval England', was unveiled in Jewry Street.
From the records: “A statue of Licoricia of Winchester, described as "the most important Jewish woman in medieval England", located in Jewry Street, was unveiled by the then Prince of Wales on 10 February 2022.”