Winchester is down the road from where I live, but I don't often need to visit it. However, I decided to have a day out to walk around the town and have afternoon tea. Winchester was once the capital of England, and some pieces of its history remains. Some castle remains and tunnels can be seen near The Great Hall, and there's a part of the city wall, impressive cathedral, market cross, old mill, and Tudor-style buildings and passages.
Part of the city wall, Westgate near the site of the castle, can be climbed. There's a museum on the top, and there are some nice views down the High Street. This is at the top of the hill.
Winchester city wall
Gargoyles on Westgate
View of the High Street from the top of the hill
In the middle of the high street is the buttercross, a market cross. The buttercross was built in the early 14th century. Goods were sold here.
Buttercross
Detail of buttercross
Clock
Some of the signage on the high street in Winchester feature pictures or sculptures of goods that would be sold in the shops. There are many of these around old towns in England as people in old times were illiterate. Winchester has a few of these, including the boot and kettle below.
Kettle and boot
View looking up the high street
Winchester Cathedral and the close have some pretty buildings, and the water meadows are near here, and there are some nice walks to smaller villages outside of Winchester. At the entrance to the close along the high street is a tall steel sculpture structure that is covered in lights. The structure changes colour depending on commands send via text message to it. It is fun to visit in the evening and watch it change colour in response to text messages.
Winchester cathedral
Cathedral close
I had afternoon tea as Maison Blanc at the bottom of the High Street. The afternoon tea included English Breakfast tea, a mini chocolate eclair, mini apricot almondine, mini lemon meringue, mini chocolate brownie and mini Millefeille Framboises. My favoruites were the lemon meringue and the Millefeille Framboises.
Afternoon tea pastries at Maison Blanc
Afternoon tea
Before I had the afternoon tea, I had a BLT sandwich on baguette and a glass of white wine. This was promptly followed by tea and pastries.
BLT sandwich and wine
At the bottom of the hill is the statue of King Alfred, which is one of the symbols of Winchester; its college is named after him.
King Alfred
Enjoy!
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