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| The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester, most amazingly still working today with the exact of organization and in the same way than centuries ago. |
There is one last place that you should not miss if you are visiting Winchester (read the other two posts about the main attractions of Winchester: Visiting Winchester #1 - Visiting Winchester #2).
St Cross, or using its full name The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester.
St Cross is for me one of the most inspiring in Winchester.
It obviously depends a lot for what you are looking for in Winchester.
Winchester is a beautiful town in the South of England, an hour South of London and , although sometimes forgot, the town of Winchester is so important in the history of England to rightly deserve to be the town of King Arthur's Round Table.
Winchester was also for a short time the capital of England, during the black death in London.
If you are looking for the great monuments your first place to would be Winchester Cathedral and after King Arthur's Round Table.
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| The Almshouse is a charitable housing provided to elderly and poor people. |
If instead you are looking for a less famous corner of Winchester, but extremely inspiring and charming the right place is St Cross.
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty is a medieval almshouse founded between 1133 and 1136. It is the oldest charitable institution in the United Kingdom.
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester is the oldest and largest almshouse in England and certainly one of the best preserved.
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester, most amazingly still working today with the exact of organization and in the same way than centuries ago.
The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester provides today accommodation for a total of 25 elderly men, called "The Brothers", under the care of "The Master".
St Cross is just outside Winchester Old Town. One time it could have been easily said it was outside Winchester in the countryside.
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| The Almshouse is a charitable housing provided to elderly and poor people. |
Practically today The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty is little more than two miles from Winchester city center, walking South.
The best you can do if you are visiting Winchester in South of England is to finish your two days tour at The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty
If after you have visited the Cathedral you walk at the back of this wonderful church passing near Dean Garnier Gardens you will easily find college street.-
Walk along College Street and if you have time visit Winchester College and have a look of what is left of Winchester Castle.
After you have seen the few remaining ruins of the castle take College Walk, keep coming straight in front of you an in twenty minutes you will be at St Cross.
The building is constructed of stone and surrounds two quadrangles. The smaller Outer Quadrangle to the north consists of: the outer gate (16th century); brew house (14th century).
The 12th- and 13th-century church in the south-east corner is more like a miniature cathedral than a typical almshouse chapel. The building is stone-vaulted throughout, with transepts and a central tower.
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| St Cross, or using its full name The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester. |
What is an almshouse?
An Almshouse is a typical British institution, at least originally.
The Almshouse is a charitable housing provided to elderly and poor people.
Alms are, in the Christian tradition, money or services donated to support the poor and indigent. Almshouses were established from the 10th century in Britain, to provide a place of residence for poor, old and distressed people.
If you are so lucky yo be able to visit The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester in a spring sunny day you could enjoy all the quiet of the large courtyard.
The gardens of the Hospital of St Cross when in bloom are a magnificent sight and you would feel back in time in the quiet of these gardens.
Do you want to read more about Winchester?
Read The hero of Winchester Cathedral and King Arthur Round Table in Winchester.
Do you want to read more about England?
Browse on my page Visit England for many more destinations
If you are visiting Winchester please leave a comment below about your visit or some suggestions you would like to make for other visitors.
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