…on Easter Sunday
The Church of St Swithun upon Kingsgate has been a place of worship for more than 750 years. The church, built in the middle ages is located above the medieval Kingsgate, one of the principle entrances to the city. The church is unusual in that it forms part of the city wall.
From Wikipedia:
The first mention of the church is recorded in 1264, when it was apparently burned by the citizens of Winchester during a dispute with the Priory.[2] Most likely the church served as a chapel for lay people who worked for the Abbey.[1] In 1337 some woodwork was done on the church, costing a total of fifteen shillings, and in 1484 the windows underwent repair.[2]
St Swithun was an Anglo Saxon saint, born in Winchester and in 852 becoming the 19th bishop of the city. He died in 862 when King Alfred the Great was still a young man.[2] It is possible that St Swithun was tutor to the young king, and accompanied him on a pilgrimage to Rome.[2]
By the 17th century the church had fallen into disrepair, and had become home to one Robert Allen, the porter of Kings Gate, and his wife, “who did and doth keep swine at ye ende of the Chapell”.[1][2] The situation was improved around 1660 when the church was restored, its bells re-hung in 1677.[1] It has remained a place of worship since that time.[2]
Tags: Church, Easter Garden, Hampshire, Love, St Swithun upon Kingsgate, There's Always One Two, Weekend away, Winchester
During my stay at the Wykeham Arms in Winchester I was intrigued by slots in the dining tables which stated ‘for the cathedral’.
You will notice that the pub has a number of historical themes. Most notably that of Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill. Our long bar as you enter through the iconic curved front doors is named after Nelson, and the smaller bar ti its left Hamilton. We also have two bedrooms named after England’s former vice Admiral and his lady love. It is reputed that he stayed here on his way to Portsmouth. Sadly he didn’t sign the visitor’s book, but we will have to stick with the story regardless.
As for Churchill, he was revered by former license couple of the Wykeham arms, Graeme and Ann Jameson. The far dining room is named in Graeme’s memory. The couple tirelessly collected all of the authentic bric-a-brac you see around the house, and also implemented the Cathedral donation slots you will notice in the tables. This was, and still is, to collect funds to restore the cathedral. In the 1980’s Graeme created this fundraising idea, and in its first year pledged to match each pound collected with a pound of his own. £30000 was pulled from the coin boxes, and Graeme stayed true to his word. A bond was forged with the cathedral that remains to this day.*
*Information quoted from the hotel information book.
Tags: Funds, Restoration, Weekend away, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester Wessex Hotel, Wykeham Arms
The last few weeks have presented challenges for me. Getting in a daily walk, even a small walk has been difficult to fit in around the challenges…
Yesterday was one of those days. Mr C and I had to make a journey that takes a couple of hours in order to register the death of my elderly aunt who recently passed away. We had made a similar journey just a few days before to pick up the instructions she had neatly detailed for us for when her time came.
The weather was kind to us, treating us to lovely countryside views as we made our journey there and back. We weren’t sure how long the registration (and other things we needed to do) would take so we booked into a local restaurant for an evening meal, rather than cooking at home.
I was partly regretting the option of dining in a restaurant… The weather was perfect for dining out in our garden. We stuck with restaurant plan which allowed me to step out into the sunshine on one of my local walks before it was time to dine 
We enjoyed our meal out. When we arrived back home Mr C poured a couple of glasses of wine, taking them out to our patio table so that we could enjoy the final rays of sunshine.
A blackbird sang to us and other birds chirruped in the background. I was overjoyed when a couple of bats arrived and flitted around over my garden. So perfect for calming the soul
(I didn’t take any pictures from my walk or garden. This photo is from my patio in April 2018)
Tags: #walk1000miles, #WalkToWellbeing, 1000 miles, 10000 Steps, Cherie's Place, Death, ForYouByYou, Life, Love, Nature, Rest in Peace, Walking Challenge
On our Easter break we stayed in the Wykeham Arms and our allocated room was the ‘Post Box’.
The ‘Post Box’ room is situated above the the old victorian post box which gives the room its name:
Your room ‘The Post Box’ is named after the 1854 Victorian wall letter box over which it sits. As one of the oldest Post Boxes in England, it was probably installed at the instigation of Anthony Trollope (himself a Wykehamist) who was at that time the Postmaster General and also writing his novel ‘The Warden’ in which the local area is strongly featured.
Many famous politicians, military figures who were at Winchester College would have used this tiny post box over the 150 years of its life. Names like Hugh Gaitskell, Field Marshall Lord Wavell, the Nawab of Pataudi and many others spring to mind.
The local Post Office has, for the last 150 years, combined with the local General Stores and Grocers’ Shops to serve the needs of the bustling local community which centres around the Cathedral and the College. Today the tradition survives and still, against all trends, the Post Office and Shop continue very much as they always have done.
Tales of the characters who have run the local Post Office and Shops abound – but I particularly like the story of a local who recalls the story of a Postmaster in the 1920’s who had his life so organised that he could sit on the lavatory, fry his breakfast and keep a beady eye on the Post Office through a wooden hatch – all at the same time.*
*From information in the room
Tags: Post Box, Weekend away, Winchester, Wykeham Arms
I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through.
Jules Verne
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Monty, Stoberry House, Weekend away, Wells
Winchester City Mill has stood at the heart of the historic city of Winchester – the capital of Kind Alfred’s Wessex – since Saxon times. With a history of over 1000 years, Winchester City Mill is also the oldest working watermill in the country.
A rare surviving example of an urban working corn mill, the City Mill was rebuilt in 1744 and remained in use until the early 20th Century. Having entered the care of the National Trust in the late 1920’s, the City Mill was restored to full working order in 2004.
Tags: There's Always One, There's Always One Two, Weekend away, Winchester, Winchester City Mill
During the season Hodnet Hall is open every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday but only three times on Wednesdays. Today was the first of those days and as Hodnet Hall is one of my favourite gardens I couldn’t miss the opportunity.
There were a few challenges along the way; newly laid chippings on the road with a 10 mile an hour speed limit, the car park was rather full when I arrived and two coaches had just pulled in meaning the teashop was rather full and there was a queue.. Eventually I got served and dropped lucky with a nearby table being vacated just after I had finished paying.
I had a relaxing afternoon in the sun enjoying the gardens and the bluebell walk. The light and colour is always spectacular at this time of year.
A perfect end to the day (although it was tinged with some sad news about an elderly relative as we were preparing dinner) was another opportunity for a Fine Dining experience on the patio.
Tags: #walk1000miles, #WalkToWellbeing, 1000 miles, 10000 Steps, Cherie's Place Thought, Fine Dining, ForYouByYou, Hodnet Hall Gardens, Patio, Portrait, Self Portrait, Shropahire, Walking Challenge
