May 2017 - Bishops, Buildings & Bones
Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 5th May 2017 at Merchistoun Hall. They were entertained by Andrew Negus talking about the "Bishops, Buildings & Bones of Winchester."
Members were taken back to the year 100 BC when the Celts lived in mud huts, then right through to 1100 AD when Winchester was the capital of England. Winchester came about because of the ideal situation of the Itchen valley, the river, good surrounding farmland and because it could be defended. The Celtic settlement in 100 AD was known as Caergwent or Oram's Arbour.
The Romans in AD 70, who were well organised and equipped, smashed through the defences and captured the settlement. They exploited the inhabitants. They built a walled city called Venta Belgarum which had a population of 6,000. They even re-routed the River Itchen 300 yards to run outside of the walls. They built 6 roads and 4 gates and it was a thriving city. By 410 AD the Romans had gone and their cities fell into ruin because the local inhabitants had no need for them.
The Saxon's (Germans) found the city and called it Wintoncaester. They killed many of the Celts, others were assimilated into their community and many were driven away. Winchester was part of the kingdom of Wessex (West Saxons). In 650 AD St Birinius converted the inhabitants to Christianity and built the old Minster (which was on the site of the Cathedral of today). It was huge and it took 70 men to pump the organ! The Saxons rebuilt the walls and by 700 AD, they had established a burial place for Kings. It was again on the way up.
In 870 AD St Swithin was an extremely good man who took care of the poor. When he died following his wish, he was buried outside of the old minster where he could be in the elements. Having a saint’s remains buried there brought in lots of pilgrims (early tourists) also the new bridge enabled and attracted trade into Winchester.
800 AD - 1066 AD the Vikings (Danes) arrived and were looking for gold and attacked - however they met their match in Alfred the Great who defeated them. He created the Navy and encouraged learning and art. Following his death, his wife had a new Minster built to house his bones. She also built a Nunnaminster for Nuns. His sons and daughter in law went on to unite all of England.
937 AD Aethelston became the first King of a united England. The Mint was in Winchester and also there was a thriving wool trade which was exported via Southampton and made England rich and famous. An Alms house, St John's Hospice was built and took care of the elderly and travellers. 970 AD Bishop Aethelwold tightened up the religious rules and so the future bishops of Winchester attracted more gifts of land and they became very wealthy. Winchester was a city reborn and respected throughout Europe as place of learning. 1002 AD King Aelthelred married 16-year-old Emma, daughter of a Norman duke and their son was Edward the Confessor who gave her the Godbegot Estate. After his death, Emma married Canute. She is the only person in history who has married two kings and had two sons who became kings.
1066 William the Conqueror made Winchester the capital, built a castle, rebuilt the walls and strengthened gates. He built Hyde Abbey into which the monks placed their saints’ relics and the bones of Alfred the Great. 1070 built new Cathedral which was the longest medieval cathedral in the world and houses bones of St Swithin and ancient kings. At this time Bishops were politicians, wealthy and powerful. The Bishop of Winchester owned 25 large houses and 6 palaces. In 1100, London became a rival to Winchester.
Andrew made his talk extremely interesting, especially when expressing his views on the Saxon's, Danes and one or two of the Bishops (did not think well of them!). This was part one of his talks on Winchester and members are now looking forward to part two!
Diane Stoner
Speaker Coordinator