Winchester - Hampshire

Winchester was England's and Wessex's ancient capital, the former seat of a number of Kings including King Alfred the Great. It is now the county town of Hampshire. It is located about 70 miles from central London and 13 miles from the major port city of Southampton where many of the worlds largest cruise liners start there world voyages.

One of the most famous buildings in the United kingdom is located in this city, It started as a small Saxon church and became a great Cathedral with the long history of this sacred place stretching back over 15 centuries.

This unique heritage city, where the kings of England have their burial places is also famous for other well known people such as Jane Austen, Izaac Walton and Keats.

It was at Winchester that the rule of Common Law was established, the Domesday Book was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. The first draft was completed by August 1086 and contained no fewer than 13,418 records concerning settlements in the English counties laying to the south of the rivers Ribble and Tees, being the border with Scotland at that time.

Winchester Bible

The Winchester Bible commisioned by King James, or ‘Authorized Version’ (KJV), was published on 2 May 1611 and will therefore celebrate it's 400 years in 2011. The King James Version remains the most widely published text in the English language. Around 50 scholars appointed in 1604 by order of King James worked on the text.

Many ancient institutions such as hospitals, schools and religious foundations survive to influence the daily life in and around the city today. Modern Winchester is a thriving centre for eating out or shopping or just walking aound with six military and four civic museums or permanent exhibitions for the tourist to visit, this city is packed with many historic buildings, family attractions and tranquil green spaces just waiting to be explored.

Winchester - Hampshire - Chandlers Ford Community Website