Winchester Curiosities

by David Hilliam

Winchester, ancient capital of Wessex, is a crucial part of Britain's heritage. In his latest book, David Hilliam condenses the city's long and fascinating history into a collection of memorable curiosities that are still to be seen today. Visitors―and even residents―frequently walk by some of these age-old fragments of the past without fully realizing just what they are, or how they relate to Winchester's memorable past. For more than 2,000 years Winchester has been one of the most important cities in important for William the Conqueror, who built his first castle here; for the Saxons, who buried their kings here; for the Romans, who first laid out its streets, which are still used by 21st-century traffic; and for the Celtic tribe the Belgae, who traded in Winchester and thus provided its ancient name, Venta Belgarum. This is an intriguing collection of historical facts and legendary tales, together with a wealth of photographs, old engravings, and specially commissioned drawings. Also included is useful information for visitors, as well as essential websites for the armchair traveler.

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the gift shop just outside Winchester Cathedral on a tour stop during a visit to England in September. We had a guided tour of the cathedral and followed Jane Austen's funeral procession, which ended at her tomb at the magnificent cathedral. Unfortunately, we didn't have the chance to see more of this beautiful ancient British capital. Reading about these "Curiosities" in the great city, it's helped me learn about all the places to visit when I go back...very interesting reading.