Wolvesey
| Wolvesey Castle | |
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| Type | Castle |
| Location | Winchester |
| Coordinates | 51°03′33″N 1°18′36″W / 51.0591°N 1.3101°W |
| OS grid reference | SU 48459 29088 |
| Area | Hampshire |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Official name: Wolvesey Palace | |
| Designated | 19 April 1915 |
| Reference no. | 1005535 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Wolvesey Castle | |
| Designated | 24 March 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1095511 |
 Location of Wolvesey Castle in Hampshire
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Wolvesey Castle, also known as the "Old Bishop's Palace", is a ruined castle in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It is located next to Winchester Cathedral.
The original palace on the site was built around 970 by Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester on a piece of land known as Wulveseye or Wulf's island, an eyot in the River Itchen east of the cathedral. About 1110, the second Norman bishop, William Giffard, constructed a new hall to the south west. His successor, Henry of Blois, brother of King Stephen added a second hall to the west between 1135 and 1138.
A new palace in the baroque style was built to the south by Sir Thomas Finch for Bishop Morley in 1684. However, Bishop North demolished all but the west wing of this palace in 1786. After a variety of different uses the remaining part was refurbished for use once again as the bishop's residence in 1926 by Bishop Woods.
The castle was created by Henry of Blois in 1141 by linking the two Norman halls with a curtain wall which would have finally obliterated any remaining parts of the Anglo-Saxon palace. It was the scene for the Rout of Winchester in which the Empress Matilda assaulted the castle later in 1141, during the period of civil war known as The Anarchy. It was the castle's first and only siege, when it was held for Stephen by the retainers of Bishop Henry.
The besieged defenders of Wolvesey burnt with fireballs all the houses of the city which were too near the enceinte and gave cover to the enemy. Most of the old town of Winchester was destroyed. Empress Matilda's forces were held off for three weeks (August - September, 1141) until Stephen's wife, Matilda, arrived with reinforcements from London.
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Wikipedia