Uncover Years of English History at Winchester Cathedral
02 June 2021
Situated on the edge of Winchester city centre, Winchester Holts is our new collection of two- and three-bedroom homes. Each has been designed with style and sophistication in mind, and act as a welcoming retreat after a day of exploring the city. One of our favourite locations is the iconic landmark in the centre of the city, Winchester Cathedral;a spectacular Anglo-Saxon Cathedral which has played an important part in England’s history for hundreds of years.
A Brief History of Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral originated in the seventh century when England’s pagan monarchy first became Christians when Cynegils, king of the Wessex, was first baptised in 635. A decade later, his son built the first Christian church in Winchester, the heart of Anglo- Saxon Wessex. The church, known as Old Minster, continued to increase in significance and by the year 1,000 it became a Cathedral, thriving priory church and final resting place of West Saxon Kings.
Change came about some years later when William the Conqueror successfully invaded England. Old Minster was demolished, and the new Cathedral, which still stands today, was built in 1093 with the remaining stones which can still be seen in the crypt. The Norman Cathedral flourished for many centuries but faced great challenges once more in the 1530s under Henry VIII’s reign, where it was reformed to become a Church of England Cathedral. These changes included a new prayer book written in English and new patterns of worship which are still reflected in the services at the Cathedral today.
What to see at the Cathedral:
Art and architecture
A walk around the Cathedral will take you through centuries of English architecture adorned with magnificent works of art, from paintings to carvings.
The Winchester Bible
Written in Latin across 468 sheets of parchment, the Winchester Bible is one of the largest and finest English bibles from the 12th century.
Jane Austen’s grave
Pay respects to esteemed English novelist, Jane Austen, who was a great admirer of the Cathedral and was laid to rest there in 1817.
Statues
The eerie yet intricately designed crypt is home to Antony Gormley’s sculpture of a lone man, Sound II, which can be seen on the Crypt Tour. The Cathedral also has a statue of deep-sea diver, William Walker, who worked underwater for six years to save the Cathedral from collapse.
Peregrine cam
From the comfort of your own home, you can watch the Peregrine cam here which has sight of the majestic birds that nest at the Cathedral every year.
Tours of Winchester Cathedral
Taking place five days a week, the Cathedral tour takes in the Cathedral’s many treasures and teaches visitors about its rich history, sharing insight into the characters and events that have shaped the history of England. www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/whats-on/guided-tours
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Owners at our new Winchester Holts community are a short walk from the city centre, where they can enjoy Winchester Cathedral along with shops, cafes, restaurants and more. To find out about the homes available, call 01962 418 059 or email [email protected].