Winchester Palace — Attraction in London

Very historic. Winchester Palace was once one of the largest and most important buildings in all of medieval London. Built in the early 13th century as a home to the powerful Bishops of Winchester, the palace was mostly destroyed by fire in 1814. Today visitors can see the impressive architecture of the remaining walls of the Great Hall, including a magnificent rose window that adorns the west gable. Winchester Palace is managed by Bankside Open Spaces Trust, which has planted a medieval-style garden in the remains of the Great Hall. The rest of the palace was arranged around two courtyards, and housed many buildings, including a prison, brew-house and butchery. As the bishop’s private retreat from the stresses of medieval governance, the palace also had a tennis court, bowling alley and pleasure gardens.

The palace remained in use until the 17th century, when it was divided into tenements...

If you walk the Thames walk on the south side, you will come across the ruins of a building on Clink Street. This is the last remaining reference to Winchester Palace, one of the most important buildings in Medieval London. Founded in the 12th century by Bishop Henry of Blois, brother of King Stephen, the Palace was built to allow bishops visiting London to have somewhere of luxury to stay. A building attains Palace status if it has royal habitation, and many have stayed at Winchester Palace, including James, the first.

The building ceased being used in the 17th century when it was converted into warehouses and tenements. It was after a fire in the 19th century that the original wall of the grand hall was discovered with its rose window and the remains of the cellar.

If you are ever walking on the south side of the Thames, take time to take in this reference to...

Founded in the 12th century by Bishop Henry of Blois, brother of King Stephen, Winchester Palace was built to house the bishops in comfort when staying in London on royal or administrative business.

The remains were part of the great hall, which formally stood alongside the south bank of the Thames. The gable wall of the hall has doors which led to the buttery, pantry and kitchen, and it has a magnificent rose window.

Below the hall was a vaulted cellar, where goods such as wine could be stored, with a passage to the river wharf.

The hall would have been lavishly decorated, and was often used to entertain royal guests, such as James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort, who held their wedding feast...