Winchester - the ancient capital of England

The city of Winchester lies in the county of Hampshire, south of London. While London is a city of worldwide fame, Winchester remains virtually unknown to many visitors to the United Kingdom. The city began life in Roman times (during which time it was known as Venta Belgarum) and achieved great fame in the Saxon era thanks to the presence of King Alfred the Great. In 1066, following his success at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror made Winchester his capital, rebuilding an existing Palace and also constructing a castle to defend the city. 1079 saw the Normans destroy the existing Old Minster Cathedral and build a new cathedral on the same site. The cathedral remains, to this day, the outstanding landmark in the city and one of the finest cathedrals in the entire country. Throughout the Middle Ages, the city became associated with historical figures who are still studied by schoolchildren to this day. In 1554, for instance, Queen Mary chose Winchester as the site of her wedding to King Phillip of Spain. In later years, Oliver Cromwell was to attack the city during the English civil war of the 17th century. His men were to vandalise the cathedral and destroy the castle - with hindsight, a sad loss to history. The city's association with royalty continues however: King Charles II was extremely fond of Winchester and even decided to build a royal palace in the city. Alas, the plan was never to come to fruition. Winchester remains a stunning city, with its architecture harking back to its glorious past. Indeed, some would describe it as being quintessentially English. Many tourists pass it by, in favour of other well-worn tourist routes. That, it must be said, is very much their loss.