| Summary : Winchester Cathedral was the central shrine of Wessex and of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom. The first church was built circa 675 when, after the death of Birinus, his "cathedra" was moved from Dorchester, Oxfordshire to Winchester. Here the King built a church in honour of the Holy Trinity and SS Peter and Paul which was served by canons. Destroyed by the Danes, it was rebuilt by Ethelwold who substitued Benedictine monks for the earlier canons. It is thought that its monastic church stood to the north of the present cathedral, which replaced it after it had continued in use for a little more than a century. The present church was begun in 1079 by Walkelin, the first Norman bishop, and was probably finished by Bishop Henry of Blois (d. 1171). Walkelin's church compised a chancel, nave and transepts with a tower in the centre and one at the west end. A large presbytery was raised on a vaulted undercroft. The great central tower fell 15 years after it first building and was rebuilt later. Bishop Godfrey Lucy (1189-1204) took down the small Norman chapel at the east end and built was is now the retro-choir. It is ended towards the east by three chapels which include the Lady Chapel and the Guardian Angel's Chapel. The eastern chapels were altered in the 15th century. The third great building period at Winchester begins about 1315 with the first thing to be rebuilt being the presbytery (1315-1360). The remodelling of the nave is associated with two men: Bishops William Edington (1346-66) and William of Wykeham (1367-1404). Amongst other works, this involved the Perpendicular recasing of the Norman nave. After the completion of the nave several important works were done at the eastern side of the church including large traceried windows and a vault over the Lady Chapel. At the time of the Reformation (1539) the shrines, side altars, and a great number of works of art were destroyed. Between 1905 and 1912 a large part of the building was underpinned. |
More information : (SU 48232926) CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY (NAT)
(SU 48212919) Deanery (NAT)
(SU 48122923) St. Swithun's Priory (N.R.) (Remains of)
(SU 48182923) Cloisters (N.R.) (Site of)
(SU 48192917) Prior's House (N.R.) (Remains of)
(SU 48242910) Hall (N.R.) (Remains of)
(SU 48162908) Prior or Close Gate (N.R.)
(SU 48072926) Mound (N.R.)
(Name centred SU 48032925: SU 48232905: SU 48372912)
Close Wall (N.R.) (Thrice). (1)
Winchester Cathedral Priory (Benedictine) founded c.604, 964 (but according to legend there were many foundations here, the earlier being c.169) Dissolved 1539. The Monastic Cathedral became a secular Cathedral in 1542.
The complicated history and relationship of the various Saxon minsters and the subsequent Norman Cathedral is only now being elucidated by excavation. Briefly we have a prior of Benedictive monks, whose Cathedral became best known as the 'Old Minster' when King Alfred founded a further priory on an adjoining site, known as St. Grimbalds' Abbey or the 'Newminster' The Old Minster occupied a site immediately to the N of, and partly underlying, the nave of the present cathedral. It was demolished in 1093, fifteen years after Walkelin, the first Norman bishop commenced the present cathedral. The 'Newminster' lay to the N of the Old Minster so close it was possible to walk between the two and touch both. It was demolished when the 'NewMinster' moved the Hyde in 1110 (and became known as Hyde Abbey).
The layout of the Saxon priory is not known. The Norman priory lay on the S. side of the Cathedral but little of it remains, notably the Chapter House and Priors Lodge, part of the kitchen range and the close wall.
The original dedication of the Cathedral was to St. Peter and Paul but it came to be known as St. Swithuns' after an additional dedication c.971. The dedication to the Holy Trinity seems to have followed the post-dissolution refounding as a Secular Cathedral. For a recent summary of documentary evidence on these priories see Biddle & Quirk pp 173-182. For details of surviving remains and plans based on Atkinson & Biddle see map diagram. (2)
Excavations were carried out until 1969 on the site of the Old Minster. The complete plan and construction sequence have now been recovered. The first church was probably built by Kenwalh, King of Wessex 643-72. The original building was gradually added to, and was largely rebuilt by Ethelwold in about 971-80. The excavations also located a monumental shrine to St. Swithun, although his original burial place was outside the west door of the Minster.
After the demolition of the Old Minster, the shrine was house in a chapel dedicated to St. Swithun, erected outside the north door of the cathedral nave, probably in the 12th century.
In 1970, excavations were carried out on "Building E", first excavated by Dean Kitchen in 1886. It was found to be the south range of a monastic complex of at least seven phases associated with New Minster and in use until 1110 when the foundation moved to Hyde Abbey (see SU 42 NE 27).
See map diagram. (3-7)
Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Grade A; Close Boundary Walls and Gates, Grade 1; No 1 The Close, Grade 1; The Deanery incorporating Prior's Hall, Grade 1; No 4 The Close (The Judge's Lodging), Grade 1: Nos. 5-11, The Close,
Grade 1. (8)
The Cathedral, Close Walls and Gates, and buildings listed by DOE (HHR) remain as stated and all are in good condition, see GPs. (9) |