Category: News

It’s that time of year again as the King Alfred Weekend kicks off with a lecture at St Bartholomew’s church:

‘How far did Alfred the Great set the scene for Magna Carta?’

His Honour Judge Cutler CBE, Hon Recorder of Winchester.

The King Alfred weekend takes place from Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th October 2015

For the full programme of the events, organised jointly by Hyde900 and St Bartholomews church, please click on the link to visit the Hyde900 website.

We shall again be selling two designs this year, both A5 in size, featuring the Anglo-Saxon Cathedral of Old Minster at different stages of its development.

The cards are from original watercolours by our illustration Simon Hayfield.

Click here for more details and to order online.

20 December 1938 – 25 September 2015

A number of tributes have been paid to Chris Webb, who passed away on 25th September. He was a long-standing supporter of the Winchester Excavations Committee, as well as many other local organisations. Winchester Excavations Committee members recalled his passionate support for the King Alfred Busses, his early support for the fight to save Hockley Viaduct from destruction in the 1980s, his help with the campaign for a tunnel under Twyford Down, and above all Chris’ gentle humour and kindness.

A few words from Martin Biddle:

‘Chris was a good friend and archaeological enthusiast. He grew up in a household with a profound interest in the past; his parents were members of the Egypt Exploration Society and Chris accompanied them on a number of visits to Egypt, Central Asia and Europe as a boy.

He served as a member of the Winchester Excavations Committee for many years, and was also on our management committee, where his enthusiasm and wise comment were greatly appreciated.’

Over one hundred people attended Chris’ funeral, including representatives from the Winchester Excavations Committee, The Rifles (Chris was in the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry – 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) as one of the last National Servicemen), Friends of King Alfred’s Buses, Friends of Hockley Viaduct and the City of Winchester Trust.

Very interesting feature in the latest (23rd July) Hampshire Chronicle regarding the Hessian Camp in Winchester and the excavations at Barton Farm.

15th July 2015 7pm

'Bishops, Kings and Saints in early medieval Winchester' - Sarah Foot is  the Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford and a Lay Canon of Christ Church Cathedral.  She has written extensively on the history of the Anglo-Saxon Church and is currently beginning work on an intellectual biography of the Venerable  Bede.  Her most recent book was Ethlstan: the First English Monarch (Yale UP, 2011).

This lecture will explore how Winchester became not just the political base of the kings of Wessex (later of all England) but also the most significant cathedral church in England, second only to the archiepiscopal seat at Canterbury.

Tickets: £10, available online from the Cathedral Box Office or by phone on 01962 857 275.

In a letter to the editor printed in today's (16th July 2015) Hampshire Chronicle, Martin Biddle has given his take on the excavations at Barton Farm.  In particular he highlights the national and international importance of the finds regarding the Hessian camp.

Excellent feature in the Hampshire Chronicle focusing on the fascinating excavations of the medieval leprosy hospital in Winchester.  Carried out by The University of Winchester, the team will be continuing their search again this year.

A new book focussing on the important Hessian Camp in Winchester is currently being prepared by a local Winchester resident.  More information available here, courtesy of the Hampshire Chronicle.