Winchester,
Hampshire - Wolvesey Castle
12th century
Click photos to enlarge |
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Referred to as both Old Wolvesey
Palace and Wolvesey Castle, this has been the site of the Bishop of
Winchester's house since the 10th century. Little is known of the palace
buildings in Anglo-Saxon times, what is seen today is from the Norman
period, essentially the 12th century. |
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Of that, very little is visible
of the earliest range of c.1110, the blue area in the picture (part of the
English
Heritage display board on the site). The
most substantial remains, shown below, are those of the east and north
ranges, i.e. the Great Hall, or East Hall, the keep and guard tower to the
east of that, and the gatehouse to the north. These are extensions by the
bishop Henry de Blois and date from 1135-1171. A plan is available here
(external website).
The buildings fell out of use in the 17th century and a new palace was
built at the south-west corner. Part of this remains and is still in use.
See Bishop's House.
The ruins were stabilised after
1915, using red tiles to distinguish the repair work from the original.
Gravel indicates interior areas, grass indicates outside areas. |
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The southern end of the East Hall
from the outside, and the guard tower. The hall is c.1170, the guard tower
c.1130-40. The wall from the guard tower to the south has some herringbone
flintwork (not shown) which according to Pevsner is usually accepted as a
sign of the 11th century. |
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The guard tower from the opposite
side, and the interior of the southern end of the East Hall. |
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The northern end of the East Hall
(interior) from the southern entrance. According to Pevsner, the stylistic
evidence of the details points to a date of about 1170. On the arch of the
arcading in the third picture is an unusual variety of zigzag, more like
triangles. Large shafted windows and pellets up the jambs (fourth
picture). A good head corbel remains.
The East Hall was a public
building for large meetings and ceremonies. |
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The northern end on the outside.
To the left of it can be seen the 15th century chapel which replaced a
Norman chapel. This is now the northern end of the 17th century Bishop's
House.
Passage way between the East Hall and the keep. |
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The keep, c. 1130-40. West wall
from the outside (beyond the fragmentary wall of the passage way). Last
picture shows the inside of the east wall of the keep. |
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North wall of the keep from the
outside, and on the inside (last picture). Flat buttresses. |
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The gatehouse to the west of the
East Hall. C.1130-40 |
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The gatehouse on the inside.
Drainage channel of latrine block. |
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English
Heritage website of the castle,
including aerial view and directions
More
of Winchester at Astoft |
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