The Hospital at St. Cross was founded between 1132 and 1136, which makes it the oldest Alms House in England. Spectacular medievial buildings were built to help the needy! They still exist and so does the Charity: food and shelter being given to the poor! The Hospital was founded to support thirteen poor men, so frail that they were unable to work, and to feed one hundred men at the gates each day. The thirteen men became the Brothers of St. Cross. Then, as now, they were not monks. St. Cross is not a monastery but a secular foundation. Medieval St. Cross was endowed with land, mills and farms, providing food and drink for a large number of people. Here is a bit of the Hospital.
Now into the water meadows, what a fantastic place. Here is an Alder on the left and a Willow growing next to a small stream!
A rose growing over a little stream. Beware for these get silted up, and there are warning signs as the silt is deep and dangerous; always stick to the public footpaths. A buddliea growing over another stream!
Some enchanting views through the water meadows. The rain goes through the chalk in the hills and by the time it comes out, it is clear in the main river.
This is not the main river but a feeder. Apart from the footpaths everything is left to nature! No roads or car parks for miles. All you can hear are the birds singing, the river burbling and the trout jumping; pure heaven to me!
The River Itchen is one of the finest chalk streams in the world. The finest is the River Test which is not far from here. It costs an arm and leg to fish for our native brown trout here; dry fly fishing and casting upstream only are allowed. When the mayfly hatch they have "Duffers fortnight." The trout go on a feeding frenzy and for those who are not very good at fly fishing, it gives them a chance to catch a fish! I love the sign "PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE FISH."
Teasel with a bee, and more growing on the River bank! As you can imagine the birds adore this as well, once it has set seed.
A male Mute swan (Cob), and the a female (pen), with five large Cygnets.
We had a lot of rain when I was there so the river was high; every trout fisherman's dream!
Winchester College and one of its entrances; it was founded in 1382 and is a private school of the highest standards.
The front of the College and the Kingsgate. Like the Westgate this is the only other survivor of the walled City built by the Normans after 1066.
On the way back, the Queen's pub comes into view!
If there are no pubs I navigate by trees, you could not miss this stunning cedar! I also like this delicate Rose.
Lupins and a lovely Hollyhock.
Hibiscus 'Bluebird' and Penstemon 'Phoenix Pink Cloud'.
A gorgeous Hydrangea and some Daylilies.
A Welsh poppy and a Potentillia.
The scent of these sweet peas was amazing.
Clematis florida 'Sieboldii' and a Bouganvilliea.
A lovely Fuschia and more of that Clematis.
Heuchera and an orange Potentillia.
Some Bergenias a Penstemon and Daylilies! Penstemon 'Phoenix Red', a close up.
A lovely climbing Rose and a purple Japanese Maple.
Two gorgeous Japanese maples.
Another Japanese maple and an Olive aginst the shed!
Now look here stop taking photos, I am busy.
A lovely bumblebee and a black and white one?
A Catalpa or Indian Bean Tree!
Due to the rain all the streams and the river were a bit coloured, as normally it is crystal clear. This is just one of the streams, but may give you some idea as to what the river has at the bottom of it. They do not cut weeds here.
So it is goodbye from Winchester and goodbye from him, her and the not so little ones below.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit outside the City walls. The wildlife is amazing here; everything from Kingfishers, Herons to Otters and the abundant insect life, no wonder the trout eat so well. It is worth the wallk to see this beauty and enjoy the peace and solititude under an English Heaven! It has brought a lot of fantastic memories back to me, as I lived here for four years whilst studying.
Keats wrote his famous poem here on his walks.
'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run.'
Many Thanks to my greatest friends Mr & Mrs Hall.
Links.
Virtual Tour Of The Water Meadows.
For Nancy.
Thread Title | Last Reply | Replies |
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memories by Eileen | Aug 6, 2010 11:00 AM | 6 |
Stunning by vic | Jul 25, 2010 8:33 AM | 1 |
Winchester by murielw1 | Jul 24, 2010 1:33 PM | 1 |
Wonderful by cececoogan | Jul 24, 2010 9:07 AM | 4 |
Beautiful! by Ridesredmule | Jul 24, 2010 8:44 AM | 7 |
So Peaceful by Happy_1 | Jul 24, 2010 8:43 AM | 3 |
Great Article, Neil~ by Petalpants | Jul 24, 2010 8:42 AM | 1 |