Hampshire Travel Guide - Historic Churches

England
Hampshire

Hampshire Travel Guide - Historic Churches

Portsmouth Cathedral Location map Old Portsmouth, Hampshire A 12th century church which later became elevated to cathedral status. The core of the building was completed in only 16 years, to a cruciform plan with a crossing tower. The style is transitional Gothic. St. Thomas' Street, Old Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, PO1 2HH Location: off A3/A288 Website: Portsmouth Cathedral Email: rosemary.fairfax@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk Phone: 02392 823 300 Fax: 02392 295 480

Royal Garrison Church Location map Portsmouth, Hampshire A 13th century church constructed as part of a larger hospital complex of buildings. The Garrison Church is sometimes known as the 'British Army Cathedral'. Grand Parade, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, PO1 2NF Location: On Grand Parade, just off High Street. Parking nearby. Website: Royal Garrison Church English Heritage

Winchester Cathedral Location map Winchester, Hampshire 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. Winchester, Hampshire, England, SO23 9LS Website: Winchester Cathedral Email: cathedral.office@winchester-cathedral.org.uk Phone: 01962 857 200 Fax: 01962 857 201

HAMPSHIRE TRAVEL GUIDE

Introduction to Hampshire Categories Castles | Churches | Gardens | Historic Houses Special Features Broadlands | A Walk in the New Forest | Winchester Travel Guide Resources Hampshire travel links - Tourist Information Centres Hampshire Accommodation Hotels - Self Catering Cottages