Winchester Palace

Last updated

Winchester Hall
Winchester Palace in October 2020.jpg
Remains of the great hall of Winchester Palace showing the Rose Window and underneath the traditional arrangement of three doors from the screens passage to the buttery, pantry and kitchen.
Location Clink Street
London, SE1
United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°30′25″N0°05′27″W / 51.50683°N 0.09092°W / 51.50683; -0.09092
Built12th century
Architectural style(s) Medieval
Tudor
Governing body English Heritage
Reference no. Grade II
Open street map central london.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Winchester Hall in Central London

Winchester Palace was a 12th-century bishop's palace that served as the London townhouse of the Bishops of Winchester. [1] [2] It was located in the parish of Southwark in Surrey, on the south bank of the River Thames (opposite the City of London) on what is now Clink Street [3] in the London Borough of Southwark, near St Saviour's Church (which later became Southwark Cathedral). Grade II listed remains of the demolished palace survive on the site today, designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument, under the care of English Heritage.

Contents

History

Southwark, bird's eye panorama looking north-west, 19th century engraving after an original drawing dated 1546 by Anton van den Wyngaerde (1525-1571). The large mansion house on the west side of Southwark High Street is Suffolk House, beyond which, by the river and to the west (left) of St Saviour's Church, is Winchester House Southwark Panorama After Wyngaerde1546.png
Southwark, bird's eye panorama looking north-west, 19th century engraving after an original drawing dated 1546 by Anton van den Wyngaerde (1525–1571). The large mansion house on the west side of Southwark High Street is Suffolk House, beyond which, by the river and to the west (left) of St Saviour's Church, is Winchester House

Southwark in the county of Surrey was formerly the largest manor in the Diocese of Winchester and the Bishop of Winchester was a major landowner in the area.[ when? ] He was a great power in the land, and traditionally served as the king's royal treasurer, performing the function of the modern Chancellor of the Exchequer. He thus frequently needed to attend the king both at his court in Westminster, at the Tower of London and also was required to attend Parliament with other bishops and major abbots. The city of Winchester had been the capital of the Saxon kings of England. For that purpose, Henry of Blois built the palace as his comfortable and high-status London residence. Most of the other English bishops similarly had episcopal palaces in London, most notably Lambeth Palace, residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Doors formerly to the kitchens in the surviving west wall Windows on the West Wall of Winchester Palace.jpg
Doors formerly to the kitchens in the surviving west wall

From 1682 to 1686 the palace was remodelled adding Corinthian columns and pilasters, to give a more contemporary Renaissance look the sculpture and masonry being by Edward Strong the Elder. [4]

Winchester Palace, 1660 drawing by Wenceslas Hollar Winchester Palace, Southwark by Wenceslas Hollar, 1660.jpg
Winchester Palace, 1660 drawing by Wenceslas Hollar

The palace remained in use until around 1700, when it was converted and divided into tenements and warehouses. These were mostly destroyed by fire in 1814. Part of the great hall, and the west gable end with its rose window became more visible after a 19th-century fire and 20th-century redevelopment. It is believed that the great hall was built in about 1136.

The hall was enlarged and the rose window built in the 14th century, possibly by Bishop William of Wykeham (reigned 1367–1398). [5]

Below the hall was a richly decorated vaulted cellar with direct access to a wharf on the River Thames for bringing in supplies. Royal visitors were entertained at the palace, including King James I of Scotland on his wedding to Joan Beaufort (niece of the then bishop, Cardinal Henry Beaufort) in 1424. The palace was arranged around two courtyards. Other buildings within the site included a prison, a brewery and a butchery. The palace environs comprised a garden, a tennis court and a bowling alley.

During the Civil War Sir Thomas Ogle was imprisoned here, during which time he tried to draw Thomas Devenish, a member of John Goodwin's Independent Congregation, into a royalist plot to split the Parliamentarian Independents from the Presbyterians in order to assist Charles I's numbers in Parliament.

Associated with the palace was the Liberty of the Clink which also lay on the south bank of the River Thames, an area free from the jurisdiction of the City of London. It therefore became an area where activities which were suppressed in the City could flourish openly. Thus gaming houses, bowling alleys, theatres and brothels abounded. [6] It took its name from the notorious Clink prison which lay within the Liberty and gave rise to the slang expression "in the clink" (i.e. in prison). [7] The Bishops of Winchester received rents from the numerous brothels, leading to the local prostitutes being known as "Winchester geese". [8]

Present day

The remains of Winchester Palace are listed as a Scheduled Monument and are managed by English Heritage.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwark</span> District of Central London, England

Southwark is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed due to its position at the southern end of the early versions of London Bridge, for centuries the only dry crossing on the river. Around 43 AD, engineers of the Roman Empire found the geographic features of the south bank here suitable for the placement and construction of the first bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rose (theatre)</span> Elizabethan theatre in London

The Rose was an Elizabethan theatre. It was the fourth of the public theatres to be built, after The Theatre (1576), the Curtain (1577), and the theatre at Newington Butts – and the first of several playhouses to be situated in Bankside, Southwark, in a liberty outside the jurisdiction of the City of London's civic authorities. Its remains were excavated by archaeologists in 1989 and are listed by Historic England as a Scheduled Monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwark Cathedral</span> Church in London, England

Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies near the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Southwark. It has been a place of Christian worship for more than 1,000 years, but the church was only raised to cathedral status with the creation of the diocese of Southwark in 1905.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bankside</span> Human settlement in England

Bankside is an area of London, England, within the London Borough of Southwark. Bankside is located on the southern bank of the River Thames, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Charing Cross, running from a little west of Blackfriars Bridge to just a short distance before London Bridge at St Mary Overie Dock. It is part of a business improvement district known as 'Better Bankside'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clink</span> Former prison in Southwark, London

The Clink was a prison in Southwark, England, which operated from the 12th century until 1780. The prison served the Liberty of the Clink, a local manor area owned by the Bishop of Winchester rather than by the reigning monarch. As the Liberty owner, the Bishop kept all revenues from the Clink Liberty, and could put people in prison for failing to make their payments. As the Bishop, he could also imprison heretics. The Clink prison was situated next to the Bishop's London-area residence of Winchester Palace. The Clink was possibly the oldest men's prison and probably the oldest women's prison in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwark Street</span>

Southwark Street is a major street in Bankside in the London Borough of Southwark, in London England, just south of the River Thames. It runs between Blackfriars Road to the west and Borough High Street to the east. It also connects the access routes for London Bridge, Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. At the eastern end to the north is Borough Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Street, London</span>

Union Street is a major street in the London Borough of Southwark. It runs between Blackfriars Road to the west and Borough High Street to the east. Southwark Bridge Road crosses in the middle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Saviour's Dock</span> Dock in London, England

St Saviour's Dock is an inlet-style dock in London, England, on the south bank of the River Thames, 420 metres east of Tower Bridge. It forms the eastern end of the Shad Thames embankment that starts at Tower Bridge. The east side of the Dock is Jacob's Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty of the Clink</span> Former area of Southwark, England

The Liberty of the Clink was an area in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames, opposite the City of London. Although situated in Surrey the liberty was exempt from the jurisdiction of the county's sheriff and was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester who was usually either the Chancellor or Treasurer of the King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Anchor, Bankside</span> Pub in Bankside, London

The Anchor is a pub in the London Borough of Southwark. It is in the Bankside locality on the south bank of the River Thames, close to Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge station. A tavern establishment has been at the pub's location for over 800 years. Behind the pub are buildings that were operated by the Anchor Brewery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beargarden</span> Bloodsports venue in 16th and 17th century London

The Beargarden was a facility for bear-baiting, bull-baiting, and other "animal sports" in the London area during the 16th and 17th centuries, from the Elizabethan era to the English Restoration period. Baiting is a blood sport where an animal is tormented or attacked by another animal, often dogs, for the purpose of entertainment or gambling. Samuel Pepys visited the venue in 1666 and described it as "a rude and nasty pleasure". The last recorded event at the Beargarden was the baiting of "a fine but vicious horse" in 1682.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross Bones</span> Disused burial ground in Southwark, London

Cross Bones is a disused post-medieval burial ground on Redcross Way in Southwark, south London. Up to 15,000 people are believed to have been buried there. It was closed in 1853.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwark St Saviour</span> Historic civil parish in the metropolitan area of London

Southwark St Saviour was a civil parish in the metropolitan area of London, England, and part of the ancient Borough of Southwark. It was formed in 1541 from the union of the parishes of St Margaret and St Mary. It was abolished in 1930, however residents of the former parish receive a rebate against local taxation because of the presence of Borough Market. It included the Liberty of the Clink which was a special jurisdiction until 1889.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwark Christchurch</span> Historic parish in London

Christchurch was a civil parish in the metropolitan area of London, England. It was located south of the River Thames straddling either side of Blackfriars Road. It originated as the manor of Paris Garden in the parish of St Margaret, Southwark. The parish of St Margaret was replaced by St Saviour in 1541 and then in 1670 the area was split off as a parish in its own right when Christ Church was constructed. It was prone to flooding and was not heavily built upon until after 1809. In 1855 the parish was included in the metropolitan area of London where local government was reformed. The parish was united with St Saviour to form part of the St Saviour's District. When the district was abolished in 1900 the parish became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark. It was abolished as a civil parish in 1930. The area now forms the northwestern part of the London Borough of Southwark.

The King's Manor - formally 'The City of London's King's Manor of the Town and Borough of Southwark' - is an institution of the City of London which is not a Livery Company as it is territorially rather than trade based, being the organisation of the Juror freemen of the Court Leet. The Manor covers the area from the western-side of Borough High Street, Southwark, to the borders of Newington and Lambeth. The manor originally lay in Surrey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church, Southwark</span> Church in England

Christ Church, Southwark, is a church of the Anglican denomination situated on the west side of Blackfriars Road, London. At the time of the foundation there was no bridge at Blackfriars and so no major road connecting the area to the south or to the City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Bilson</span>

Thomas Bilson was an Anglican Bishop of Worcester and Bishop of Winchester. With Miles Smith, he oversaw the final edit and printing of the King James Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holland's Leaguer (brothel)</span> 17th century London brothel

Holland's Leaguer was the name of a Dutch English brothel in London between 1603 and January 1632. It has been referred to as the most famed brothel in 17th-century England. "Legeur" means military encampment.

This is a list of the etymology of street names in the London district of Southwark. The area has no formally defined boundaries – those utilised here are: the river Thames to the north, Tower Bridge Road to the east, Bricklayers Arms/New Kent Road/Elephant and Castle to the south, and London Road/St George's Circus/Blackfriars Road to the west.

St Margaret was a parish in the ancient borough of Southwark, located south of the River Thames in the Brixton Hundred of Surrey. It was abolished in 1541 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and replaced with the parish of St Saviour. The parish church was located on what is now Borough High Street and the area now forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was from 1444 governed by the Guild of the Assumption of St Margaret's Church.

References

  1. ↑ Winchester Palace
  2. ↑ Survey of London: volume 22: Bankside (the parishes of St. Saviour and Christchurch Southwark), Sir Howard Roberts and Walter H. Godfrey
  3. ↑ postcode SE1, coord|51.50683|-0.09092
  4. ↑ Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1859 by Rupert Gunnis
  5. ↑ Sir Howard Roberts and Walter H. Godfrey (editors) (1950). "Survey of London: volume 22: Bankside (the parishes of St. Saviour and Christchurch Southwark)". Winchester House and Park. pp. 45–56. Retrieved 10 March 2012.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ↑ Jeffrey L. Forgeng, Daily life in Stuart England. Greenwood Press, 2007. ISBN   978-0-313-32450-5 (p. 142)
  7. ↑ Christopher Hibbert Ben Weinreb, John & Julia Keay, The London Encyclopaedia 3rd Edition, Macmillan, London 2008 ISBN   978-1-4050-4925-2 (p. 196)
  8. ↑ Russell A. Fraser, Shakespeare: a Life in Art, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick NJ, 2008. ISBN   978-1-4128-0605-3 (p. 108)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.