- Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle, is a
castle inEngland in the city ofWinchester , in the county ofHampshire , built in 1067. Only the Great Hall exists now; it houses amuseum of the history of Winchester.The Great Hall
Between 1222–1235, Henry III added the Great Hall, built to a "double cube" design, measuring 110' by 55' by 55'. The Great Hall is 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 platetracery . Extensions to thecastle were made by Edward II. In 1873 the roof of the Great hall was renewed.An imitation Arthurian Round Table hangs 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 are the names of King Arthur's knights.
Behind the Great Hall is a re-creation of a medieval garden called Queen Eleanor's Garden.
The Castle in history
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.
Margaret of York, daughter of King Edward IV, was born here on
10 April 1472 .On
November 17 1603 SirWalter Raleigh went on trial fortreason for his supposed part in theMain Plot in the converted Great Hall.The castle was used by the Royalist Cavaliers in the
English Civil War , eventually falling to ParliamentarianRoundhead s in 1646.Oliver Cromwell then ordered the castle's destruction.In the 17th century, Charles II planned to build King's House adjoining the site, commissioning
Christopher Wren to design a royalpalace to rival thePalace of Versailles . The project was abandoned by James II.Another notorious trial took place in the Great Hall, on
15 March ,1953 ; the 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu Edward Montagu along with Michael Pitt-Rivers and Peter Wildeblood went on trial on charges of having committed specific acts of indecency.The Castle today
Since 1889 Winchester Castle has been the seat of
Hampshire County Council whose offices neighbour the Great Hall. Nearby, the excavated remains of theround tower withSally port s and Guardrobes in the medieval city wall can also be seen.Winchester Castle was also the name of a local football team before merging with
Winchester City F.C. in 2002.ee also
*
Three Castles Path ources
* [http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/hampshire/winchester/castle.htm History of the Castle on Britain Express]
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