Winchester Cathedral







Winchester Cathedral is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. It is located at the heart of historic Winchester, once the seat of Anglo-Saxon and Norman royal power, on the site of an early Christian Church. Today, Winchester Cathedral stands beautifully in the idyllic green spaces surrounding it, boasting the title of Europe’s longest medieval Cathedral. The Old Minster, a Benedictine monastery, was the home of St Swithun and the present Cathedral was built on the orders of William the Conqueror. Begun in 1079, Winchester Cathedral has been a place of welcome and worship ever since.
As a thriving attraction for visitors all over the world, Winchester Cathedral is famous as the resting place of Saxon royalty, and the Cathedral’s royal heritage can be explored in Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation, a three-level, permanent exhibition in the South Transept. The exhibition explores over 1,000 years of history, from the birth of the nation to the present day, and reveals some of the Cathedral’s greatest treasures including the magnificent Winchester Bible, the finest surviving 12th-century English bible. The exhibition also houses The Morley Library, a beautiful 17th century library with books that have not been moved from their shelves for 400 years, and also offers monumental views of the South Transept from Triforium level.
Venue Type:
Library, Gallery, Sacred space
Collection details
Religion
Key artists and exhibits
- Antony Gormley
- Barbara Hepworth
- Cecil Collins
- Peter Eugene Ball
- Peter Freeman
- Eric Gill
- 12th-century Winchester Bible
- Medieval wall paintings, stained glass and carvings
Educational Tours
http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/education/2/
Our volunteer guides are pleased to welcome groups and share with them the wonder, beauty, heroes and rogues of the Cathedral. A range of guided tours is available, including a General Tour, Winchester Cathedral – House of God, The Anglo-Saxons in Winchester, The Tudors, The English Civil War, Tactile Tour, Modern Art and What did the Normans ever do for us?
How to obtain
Tours are sometimes available in French or German. We can also provide special one-off tours for school groups. GCSE and AS/A-level groups are welcome, and we can provide a range of activities for older pupils to support exam work.
Advanced booking is essential. Please contact the Education Centre to discuss your requirements on 01962 857224.
Winchester Cathedral
1 The Close
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 9LS
England
Website
http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
cathedral.office@winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Telephone
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