WINCHESTER, England, an ancient city. capital of Hampshire, situated on the rictrt bank of the Itchen, 11 miles north of South ampton. The most important edifice is the ca the oldest parts date from the 11th cen tury, but the greater part of the main building was erected at various times from the 13th to the 16th century, William of \Vykeham (1324 1400 having an important share in the work. It has a low central tower which alone rises above the general level of the roof : length from east to west, 545 feet, width of the transepts 186 feet. The length of the nave, which has a beautiful interior, is 351 feet, height 86 feet; the transept contains several beautiful chapels and altars. Numerous monuments include the tombs of William Rufus, of Edmund, son of King Alfred, of William of Vsykeham, Cardoal Beaufort, and of [mak Walton; the shrine of Saint Swithin, etc. It is said that there was a Christian church erected at Winchester in the latter part of the 2d century. Late in the 3d cen tury it was converted into a temple to Wodin In the second half of the 7th century, the exact date not being d, finite!, known, Winchester be came an episcopal see with an unbroken line of bishops, including the famous Saint Swithin, down to the present. Other notable edifices and establishments are Saint Mary's College (Winchester College or School, one of the great English public schools), founded by William of Wykeham in 1387, richly endowed and accom modated in a large range of buildings, of which the chapel, hall and library are beautiful speci mens of architecture; the guildhall; the old castle, which has been restored, and assize courts built adjoining; a corn exchange; barracks for infantry; the hospital of Saint Cross, founded in 1132, several other charitable institutions, a free library and museum, school of art, etc.
The Abbey Gardens are very beautiful, and statues of Alfred the Great by Hamo Thorny croft, erected for the millenary of the king celebrated at Winchester in 1901, and of Queen Victoria by Alfred Gilbert, adorn the town. There are no manufactures or trade of any consequence. Winchester was called Caer Gwent by the Britons, Venta Belgarum by the Romans — under whom it was an important place, with a Christian church—and Win tanceaster by the Saxons. It became the capi tal of England under the Saxons, when the country was united under the sway of Egbert, in the first half of the 9th century, and it re tained this dignity till the middle of the 11th century, being a royal residence and place where Parliaments met after this also. After the bat tle of Naseby it stood a week's siege by Crom well. Pop. 24,146. Consult Heath, 'Winchester' (Boston 1912) ; Kitchin, (Winchester' (London 1890); Varley, (Winchester' (New York 1910).