Last day in Winchester and home

St Batholomew's Church

What's the first thing you do when you return home from a holiday? For me it's getting the kettle on for a cup of tea and opening the post. So that's what I did today.

I've just transferred all my photos on to the computer. Before that I went through all my emails. I did have one quick look through them while I was away just in case there as something burning away there, but no.

Yesterday 'the hubs' and I were out walking for a few hours. I'd picked up a leaflet in Winchester Museum about Hyde Abbey, founded in AD 903 by Alfred the Great and his son Edward the elder. Originally located in the city centre but moved in 1110 due to the northern suburb of the city due to the site being overcrowded with the Norman Cathedral expansion.

The site is quite close to where we were staying so after breakfast we bundled ourselves up in winter wear and set off to see what remained of it. Not a lot actually. There is Hyde Gate which now sits between a road and a housing development, and the church of St Bartholomew is still there (a service was taking place so no chance to see inside). We set off down another road towards Abbey Gardens where only the line of the church remains. This is the area where the relics and burials were. This now forms part of the gardens and had been planted up. A glass plaque shows how it would have looked but getting a photo of that was hard.. Parts of walls remain and run along a stream but a lot has been built over. It is said that the remains of King Alfred, his wife and son were here but like all stories there are other stories of removal, empty coffins etc!

Hyde Gate

Glass plaque 

Where the relics and burials were, now planted up

From there we went back into the city for a hot drink at cafe Eighteen 71 (of course). They were really busy due to the Christmas market. In fact it was easier to avoid the market at the weekend as it was stop/start/stuck! The cafe forms part of the Guildhall and that day there was a Vintage Fair in the Guildhall. Somehow I managed to persuade 'the hubs' to go in, despite having to fork out £2 each! It was wonderful - like going back into childhood. I spotted several things - a folding ruler like my Dad had, brooches my Mum would have worn, toys, old magazines and dressmaking patterns, china, clothes and a whole suitcase full of Ladybird books. I went through every one of those trying to find Places of Work because it has a picture of Bentalls where generations of my family worked, including me for the first nine months of my working life, aged fifteen! Anyway, I could not find the book but I loved looking at the other books.

There was a live band playing 'vintage music' and a few people dancing. It was wonderful. I managed to find a couple of Christmas stocking presents without spending a fortune. So I was pleased.

From there we decided to walk along the water meadows towards St John's Cross. We walked there last year and I had a look around the church and buildings. It was closed for the season this time but the walk was nice. We came back into the city for a very late lunch, bundling into McDonalds only to be asked to leave while three quarters through our burgers due to a 'water problem' downstairs. Everyone had to leave. I managed to stuff the rest of my food down, then we walked back to the B&B (just up the road) to drink my hot chocolate in peace. While relaxing on the bed with the TV on I promptly fell asleep!

Along the water meadows

And so the holiday ends. I know I shall be back in Winchester again. I love it there. Next time, maybe a different time of year, we will use it as a base and get the bus out to nearby places. I already have a list of three places, including the home of Jane Austen at Chawton.

History stuff.....and a film

Winchester Museum - the Roman section

Saturday was a day to escape the cold so we set off to Winchester Museum. We were waiting by the doors in time for opening! We had a treat in store. Over three floors we journeyed through the ages from Iron Age until the present. The Roman presence was most interesting for me and just down the road from our B&B, where the Brook Shopping Centre is today, were Roman houses. Winchester was then known as Venta. There were medieval buildings too and Parchment Street, where we are staying, was known for its tanneries.

On display were mosaics and pottery, as well as coins and jewellery. We had a go at some of the hands on stuff, like identifying bones from animals and pieces of pottery – whether rim, Base, centre or handle.  Good fun.

I enjoyed looking as two albums of early photos taken in the area, the mock up shops and of course the gift shop, where I bought a set of guide books and some other items. We then headed off to the Discovery Centre where they have Wi-Fi and  I was able to do my blog post. While we were there we looked at an exhibition entitled Black to White featuring four artists – Kate Dicker, Anne Hayward, Howard Phipps and Ann Tout. They all use wood engraving as their main medium. It was fascinating to see their tools of trade and their art was so intricate.

 Still wanting to keep warm we went off to the cinema and saw the new Bond movie, Spectre.  I’m not the biggest Bond fan since Daniel Craig took over. I felt the humour was harder to find and the subjects darker. However, I did enjoy this one.

Mosaic floor from Minster Street, Wincheter

A walk in a nature reserve and a little shopping

Nunnaminster, Winchester

Yesterday ‘the hubs’ and I went for a walk. I’d noticed there was a road and pathways on the other side of the High Street along the River Ichen where we had not walked before. So we set off to investigate. There were some lovely houses overlooking the river and some pretty bridges crossing over (just begging to be photographed!). We followed the river up until we found Winnall Moors Nature Reserve. Here we followed The Reed Bed Path. Although much of the greenery and rushes have died off it was still a pleasant to walk. All the areas can be navigated by pushchairs and wheelchairs – much in its favour. We spotted Robins and a few birds neither of us knew (we are far from being expert birdwatchers), lots of ducks and swans and I loved to see the red berries standing out in all the greyness of yesterday.
As we made our way round we found another path to the pond which had a wooden placard of a frog! We then found our way back to the start of the walk. Back into  town for the stop at Eighteen 71 cafe where I wrote yesterday’s post!  After a most excellent soup we walked around some of the shops and I bought a woolly red hat! On the way back to our accommodation I spent some time in a couple of charity shops. One was an Oxfam book shop (love those) which was over two floors (dream time!). A snooze was in order back at the B&B before we went out to eat.
With the weather forecast promising the arctic front, I was wondering if we’d wake to snow. We didn’t, but I dressed in my thickest sweater and jeans, and with hat, scarf and gloves we ventured out after breakfast into the bitterest wind. The cloud cleared away and the sun came streaming through. Right now we have lovely blue skies, but we are not deceived!

                                                  Nunnerminster, Winchester