Winchester Palace
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- This article is not about the former royal palace at Winchester, Hampshire.
Winchester_Palace,_Southwark_by_Wenceslas_Hollar,_1660.jpg
Winchester Palace was a thirteenth century palace, London residence of the Bishops of Winchester. It is located south of the Thames in Southwark, near the medieval priory which today has become Southwark Cathedral. Southwark was the largest town in the old diocese of Winchester and the bishop was a major landowner in the area.
Most of the palace was destroyed by fire in 1814. Part of the great hall, and the west gable end with its rose window remain visible. It is believed that the great hall was built c.1220 and that the rose window was added 100 years later.
Associated with the palace were the Clink prison (whence our phrase "in the clink"); and the "Winchester geese" — London's prostitutes who, banned in the City itself (north of the river), lived in Southwark under the bishop's regulation.
It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument managed by English Heritage.
External links
- Archaeology of Winchester Palace (http://www.compassarchaeology.co.uk/projects/medsou.htm)
- From English Heritage (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/filestore/visitsevents/asp/visits/Details.asp?Property_Id=113)