Winchester Great Hall
| Winchester Castle | |
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| Hampshire, England | |
The Great Hall, built by Henry III
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 Winchester Castle
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| Coordinates |
51°03′45″N 1°19′14″W / 51.06243°N 1.32054°WCoordinates: 51°03′45″N 1°19′14″W / 51.06243°N 1.32054°W grid reference SU476295 |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Hampshire County Council |
| Condition | Great Hall remains, used as museum |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Winchester Castle is a medieval building in Hampshire, England. It was founded in 1067. Only the Great Hall still stands; it houses a museum of the history of Winchester.
The castle was built in 1067 and for over one hundred years it was the seat of Government of the Norman Kings. A round tower from the original castle complete with sally ports is still visible. In 1141, during The Anarchy, forces of the Empress Matilda were besieged by the forces of King Stephen at the castle.
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 by 55 ft by 55 ft (approx. 33.5m by 16.8m by 16.8m). The Great Hall was built of flint with stone dressings; originally it had lower walls and a roof with dormer windows. In their place were added the tall two-light windows with early plate tracery. Extensions to the castle were added by Edward II. The Great Hall is a Grade I listed building. Behind the Great Hall a medieval garden called Queen Eleanor's Garden was formed.
An imitation Arthurian Round Table was hung in the Great Hall. The table was originally constructed in the 13th century, and repainted in its present form for Henry VIII; around the edge of the table were painted the names of King Arthur's knights. A series of pictorial epigrams illuminated in medieval monastic style known as the Winchester Panels were also hung in the Great Hall. They are thought to depict the 25 knights of the Round Table and illustrate the challenges facing a maturing character as it progresses round the great "Wheel of Life".
In 1302, Edward I and his second wife, Margaret of France, narrowly escaped death when the royal apartments of the castle were destroyed by fire. On 19 March 1330, was beheaded outside the castle walls in the Despenser plot against King Edward III. The castle remained an important residence and on 10 April 1472 Margaret of York, daughter of King Edward IV, was born there.
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Wikipedia