WINCHESTER, a famous historical city, and parliamentary and municipal borough, chief t. of Hampshire, is situated in the middle of the county, on the right bank of the Hellen, 67 m. s.w. of London by railway, and 60 in a direct line. It consists of one main street, crossed by a number of streets running at right angles to it, and was in early times surrounded by a wall, of which remains exist. The houses for the most part spread over a hill rising from the valley of the Itchen ; but the cathedral, and some of the older and more interesting portions of the city, stand on level-ground close to the river-bank. The Castle-hill is the site of the old castle or royal palace, built in the 13th c. by Henry III., and of a magnificent hall, of which the only remaining portion is used as the county court. About a mile from the town is the famous hospital of St. Cross, founded in 1136 by a bishop of Winchester, Henry de Blois, for 13 pbor men, "decayed and past their strength." It was munificently endowed; but its sources of income have been narrowed, and its ancient charters and grants were destroyed during the 13th century. Its income is above £1000 per annum, and it supports 13 poor brethren, affords relief to a number of external poor, and distributes general doles on the eves of great festivals. The hospital is entered by a gateway, after passing which a pleasing view is obtained of the buildings, which occupy three sides of a quadrangle, the fourth side being occupied by a neat, picturesque, ancient church in transition Norman, which formed part of the institution. There is a city library and a museum; the latter con tains some very interesting local antiquities. Charles II. commenced a palace here, but the part completed is now used as barracks. The city cross in the High street, dating from the 15th c., is very beautiful in design.
The college of Winchester, originally called " Seinte Marie College of Wynchestre,' now Saint Mary's or Winchester college, was founded by William of Wykeham, bishor of Winchester, in 1387, and the buildings were completed in 1393. The buildings are,. for the moat part, of the age of the founder, and consist of two quadrangles and a cloister, together with recently erected houses for the commoners. The ferrous Dula" domum is sung by all the boys in the courts of the college before the breaking up of the school at the long vacation. The foundation consisted originally of a warden, 10 fel lows. '70 scholars, a head-master (informator), an usher (ostiarius), or second master, 1
chaplains, 3 clerks or singing-men, and 16 choristers. By an ordinance of the Oxford university commission, which took effect in 1857, the number of fellowships has beer reduced, as vacancies occurred, to 6, the number of scholars being increased to 76, and 8 exhibitions have been founded. The charter of the school, which is in existence, war granted by Richard II. in 1396, and confirmed by all the subsequent sovereigns, Mary excepted, down to Charles II, The visitor is the bishop of Winchester, and the warders and two fellows of New college, Oxford, hold an annual "scrutiny," which, however, Is generally merely formal. The endowment, which amounts at present to about £15,500 annually, consists of landed property and funded stock; and of this about £2,60Q goes to expenses of management. The warden and fellows arc the governing body of the college. The pupils of the school arc of two classes—fohndation scholars and corm moncrs. The scholars are elected, between 10 and 14 years of age, by competitive examination; the average annual number of vacancies being 12, and the number of can. didates 100. The scholars are well boarded, lodged, and educated, at the expense of the foundation; having to pay, for some incidental charges, books, medical attendance, etc., about £30 per annum; but tradition exercises a powerful influence at Winchester, and many of the quaint old customs of the school, such as dining off wooden trenchers, etc., are still retained. The number of the commoners has fluctuated much; but owing to the better position in which they were placed by the new regulations of 1857, they have averaged 300 annually for some years; they generally enter between 11 and 16 years of age, and stay 3 to 4 years, and not being foundation-boys are boarded in the houses of the head and other masters, at a total annual cost of about £135 (including expense of tui tion, pocket-money, and cost of traveling). Winchester possesses 15 fellowships and 30 scholarships at New college, Oxford (also founded by William of open to scholars and commoners alike, and tenable for five years, besides numerous other prizes. Fagging is permitted to the 18 chief boys, who are called "prefects." The monitorial system was first established in this college.