2 Cathedral 4 Wolvesey Castle (Old Bishop’s Palace) Did you know? Peninsula Barracks LocatedPeninsula directly opposite Barracks 5 The Westgate 7a Normandy,7b was City centre guide to Hampshire Record Office offers ‘The King’s House’ in WWII enshrines a long history An important residence of the MILITARY help to people looking to trace of military service and sacrifice. It contains wealthy and powerful Bishops of Winchester’s military past their ancestry via army records. memorials (including the Rifle Brigade Centenary Winchester since Anglo-Saxon Trace Winchester’s military past from the Go to www3.hants.gov.uk/ Window), monuments to illustrious military leaders, times, the surviving ruins date Iron Age to the Nuclear Age and many inscriptions recording the deaths of largely from the 12th century work archives/hals-collections/army- Winchester individual soldiers in both famous and lesser-known of Bishop (1129–71). records.htm to find out more. campaigns. It houses the laid up colours of several In September 1141, during the Civil local , and also Books of Remembrance for War between King Stephen and the springboard for ‘Operation One of King Alfred’s defensive ‘burhs’, units including The Royal Hampshire , The the , the besieged Overlord’, the code name for the Winchester was established as refuge and Rifle Brigade and the Merchant Navy. The cathedral defenders of Wolvesey set fire to Allied Invasion of Europe in World itself is no stranger to conflict – the West Window testifies to a violent incursion by 6 Winchester College War II. The county became a vast strong point to resist the Danish invaders. A and destroyed most of Winchester Parliamentary troops during the Civil War and Bishop Peter Mews, a Royalist spy whilst holding off Matilda’s force. armed camp full of allied troops raiding army had destroyed the settlement in 860AD identified by the number 757, was Now a museum, the Westgate was The city offered the site of the encamped in towns, villages and but the old Roman town walls were refurbished and Winchester’s equivalent of James Colour key 1 - 8 in date order built to be one of the defensible castle to Charles II who paid his first woods. Winchester’s newly-built Bond. Special military-themed gateways in Winchester’s city walls, known visit in 1682. A scheme was by-pass became a giant tank park a new street system was laid out inside the walls. Iron and Vikings and tours can be booked through the Bronze Age, first established by the Romans in the developed for a park and a ‘noble and camp for British and American These intramural streets (such as North Walls) Anglo Saxons website. Roman first century AD. The line of the walls Palace, sufficient like Windsor, for troops. Even Peninsula Barracks in www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk remained unaltered throughout later the city was taken over by the Ninth were laid with the intention of rushing troops to Middle Ages, a summer residence for the whole Modern Tudors & times and, though the Westgate’s US Division see 12 overleaf threatened parts of the walls. The town’s walls History Court’. Construction of the palace, Civil War present structure is medieval and Designed by Sir Christopher Wren for more information on their were largely dismantled by the end of the dates mainly from the 12th to 14th Winchester and influenced by Versailles, began stay. It was here that American 18th century. 3 centuries, it is thought to stand troops were reviewed by Churchill Castle in 1683 but ended on the death of on the site of the earlier Roman Charles in 1685. ‘The King’s House’, and Eisenhower. (See 13 and Founded in 1382, Winchester gate. The west wall was entirely little more than a carcass of a house, overleaf for more details) Winchester’s th College has the longest unbroken 1 rebuilt in the 14 century when a served as a prison for 5,000 French Roman walls history of any English school. Whilst whole series of new defences was soldiers during the Seven Years’ WWI claimed the lives of over 500 Venta Belgarum was founded added in view of a possible invasion War from 1757 to 1764 and from Boer War old Wykehamists, a further 275 died 8 around AD70 with earth and timber from France. The works included 1778 to 1785 during the American horse trough in World War II. Officially opened defences. In the late 2nd century a portcullis, machicolations, gun War of Independence. From 1792 in 1924, the War Cloister was Erected the defences were rebuilt with a ports and possibly a drawbridge. to 1796 it was home to refugee designed by Sir Herbert Baker to in 1905, new earthen bank and ditch that, The two inverted keyhole gunports, clergy from Revolutionary France commemorate those who had lost located near for the first time, fully enclosed intended for primitive hand cannons, before becoming an army barrack 8 their lives. the junction Winchester has a rich and varied military history. From the urban area. The ramparts were 5 are amongst the earliest pieces of in same year. The King’s House Just months after 1066 and Notable Old Wykehamists with a of Jewry strengthened in the early 3rd century 3 architectural evidence for the use of was eventually destroyed by fire on Iron Age forts, to Civil War sites, through two World Winchester’s surrender, William the military career who were all awarded Street and St with a masonry wall about 3m thick. artillery in this country. The Westgate the night of 19th December 1894. Wars to the completion a Nuclear bunker sited at Conqueror ordered the construction 7a the include Dennis George’s Street The succession of defences can be is open weekends in the afternoon Some parts of Wren’s palace were Twyford - the district’s military stories span centuries of a castle within the city walls. 7b George Wyldbore Hewitt (1897- in Winchester, seen in the model in the City Museum . The same line of the walls continued between February and October. reused in the replacement building of history. Winchester Castle became one of 1917); Charles Doughty-Wylie this landmark commemorates the to be followed up to the 18th century when great lengths of the walls were which was ready for the army by the great fortresses of medieval (1868-1915); Daniel Burges (1873- 450,000 horses killed in the South demolished. The short lengths that survive are mainly post-Roman though the 1904 and later renamed Peninsula If you are interested in finding out more about the England. It was maintained and 1946); Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby African War of 1899-1902. fragment behind the grill in the weirs is part of the core of the Roman wall. Barracks, see 7b The army remained military history of Winchester, ancient and modern, enhanced until 1645 when it was (1885-1915); and Air Chief Marshal in occupation up to 1983. then follow these two informative trails – one based in besieged, captured by Cromwell, 1 Did you know? Hugh Dowding (1882-1970). the city and one taking you further afield. and eventually demolished. The 2 15 Victoria Cross medals are Please see www. Great Hall, built between 1222 currently on display in Winchester winchestercollege.org/guided- and 1235, is the only substantial Military Museums. Further medals tours for details of regular guided Did you know? Winchester Tourist Information Centre surviving part of the medieval castle. of Wintonians who have been tours around the College, and for Winchester city centre is spectacularlytransformed by Homecoming Parades that Winchester Guildhall, High Street, Winchester SO23 9GH A drawing of Winchester made by awarded this honour are also tours of War Cloister. assemble at The Guildhall for a reception by the Mayor of Winchester. Tel 01962 840 500 Email [email protected] Willem Schellinks in 1662 shows 4 on display in the Imperial War Web visitwinchester.co.uk the slighted castle as a still imposing Museum. Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 17.00, Closed between Christmas and New Year ruin overlooking the city. On-site 6 Sundays 11.00 - 16.00, May - September interpretation panels and displays tell the story of the castle. @King_Alf KingAlfWinchester KingAlfWinchester visitwinchester.co.uk Cover image ©Gilbert Yates Photography Cheriton battlefield Fort Nelson Hursley Park war Alresford – Twyford nuclear Around Winchester guide to military past 5 9 Marwell Airfield 17 Hursley House 19 Worthy Down airfield 20 site SU 642 205 7 SU 607 072 memorial seat 12 50 Broad Street 15 bunker SU 492 241 SU 4276 2483 St Catherine’s Hill Norsebury Ring In late November Merdon Castle of 1943 the U.S. 1 SU 484 276 3 SU 4909 4008 4 47th Infantry were stationed at The , Henry de Blois, built this various sites castle in 1138. It continued in the ownership of around Winchester the Bishops of Winchester until 1552 when it was (Alresford, Tichborne, Cheriton, surrendered to Edward VI. The castle is on private © Imperial War Museums A seat listing the regiments and their Armsworth, Bighton, Bishop Sutton and This key Royal Flying Corps base was land but some overgrown remains can be seen from established on the site of the old commanding officers who marched Northington Grange). The HQ at Just visible from the adjoining road, the road. The castle is sited within an earthwork This house was requisitioned by the Winchester racecourse on Worthy from Hursley Park to to 50 Broad Street, in Alresford is marked this bunker was created out of an whose form is suggestive of a much earlier Iron Age Between September 1941 and March Ministry of Aircraft Production to Down in 1917. In 1918, when the RAF embark for France in 1914. by a plaque. The men named the local old reservoir and was designed to hillfort. 1944, Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft used an re-house the Design and Production was formed, it became an RAF base, Between 1642 and 1649 the English public houses the ‘eight stars to victory’. act as a communications base for area within the Marwell Estate as department of Vickers Supermarine home to squadrons of bombers Air- Civil War raged. By 1644 parliament When Hambone Jr, the regiment’s Southern Water staff to restore a an airfield to support the manufacture which had been bombed out of Marshals Portal and ‘Bomber’ Harris controlled the south coast ports The Hazeley Down faithful canine mascot, was run over he safe water supply in the event of Built by Lord Palmerston to prevent a 10 of military aircraft at its nearby factory its original premises in Woolston, both passed through.The airfield, of , Southampton and memorial SU 5008 2550 was buried at The Dean, Alresford. A a nuclear attack on the UK. In the A Scheduled Ancient Monument on Did you know? French land attack on the Portmouth at the site now home to Southampton Southampton. During this time, Vickers infamous for its uphill landing, became Fareham, the Royalists held Winchester burial stone erected in 1962 with these 1980s, water was considered a private land, and just visible from the dockyard only six miles away, this is worked on the development of many The Royal Armouries at Fort and Andover. On 27 March 1644 the This memorial Airport. After the end of the war the unsuitable for larger and modern In the early Iron Age an unfortified one of five defensive forts built on words, ‘Here lies Hambone Jr. faithful aircraft - the Spitfire, and also the early priority to maintain, especially the adjoining footpath, this is a single Nelson benefitted from a commemorates th airfield was returned to agricultural aircraft and was transferred to the settlement, dated at 550-450 BC, pikemen, musketeers and cavalry of friend of the 47 Infantry Regt. Ninth jet fighters like the Attacker, Swift and deep underground wells which would ditch Iron Age enclosure of 7.9 acres the summit of Portsdown Hill in the use. Some of the hangars remain. Royal Navy as HMS Kestrel in 1939. was established on this hilltop. The £3.5m Heritage Lottery Fund the two armies met at Cheriton, the the troops Division U.S. Army May 1944.’ Scimitar. The house is now the have been uncontaminated by fall- (3.2 hectares). Sub-circular in shape, 1860s. A garrison of 200 volunteers The station played host to a variety of defences, formed by the building of a redevelopment in 2011 that Royalists led by Ralph Hopton, the stationed at executive briefing centre for IBM. out. Twyford was chosen as a location the enclosure was badly damaged by accompanied by regular army officers Fleet Air Arm squadrons and aircraft ditch-and-bank earthwork enclosing launched a new ‘Voice of the Parliamentarians by Sir William Waller. Hazeley Down Droxford railway as it was considered far enough away ploughing with only the north and were to man the fort in times of types including the Swordfish, Skua and nine hectares, were constructed Guns’ gallery showcasing two By late afternoon Hopton’s army was Camp in World Southwick House 16 station from Southampton, which would west ramparts surviving. The original war. It was not fully armed until Fulmar during WWII. Bombed by the around 250-200 BC. The original in retreat – setting Alresford ablaze for War I. It was 13 SU 63218 08805 have been a major nuclear target. entrances lie at the south east and sections of the Iraqui Super Gun. the 1890s; disarmed in 1907 and Luftwaffe in August 1940, the station wide entrance was reconstructed with cover – and Royalist military influence inaugurated 18 Bushfield Camp Sixty workers were to have access south west corners of the site. used for military accommodation. was heavily defended with a ring of timber and included guard houses set south of the Thames had ceased. at a service Fort Southwick to food, clear air and water for up In 1938 it was converted to an area 32 pill boxes and trenches. Sir Ralph in bays in the ramparts on either side. A leaflet is available to download held in August became the to two weeks. The Twyford bunker anti-aircraft ammunition store. It Richardson and Sir Laurence Olivier both In the 2nd century BC, the entrance from www.visitwinchester.co.uk and 1916. operational was completed in 1990 when the Colour key was abandoned in the 1950s. Since © Peter Facey headquarters served at Worthy Down with the Fleet was narrowed and strengthened with 1-20 in date order reenactments happens annually. Berlin Wall had already fallen. As 1995 it has been home to the Royal Air Arm. In 1952 the Naval Air Electrical chalk blocks. The site was abandoned Interpretation panels exist on site. of General the engineering contract had already Armouries national artillery collection Morn Hill camps School moved here when the base on or shortly after 50BC. Iron and Eisenhower and been committed to, it remained fully

and is open to the public as a state- 11 © Hampshire Chronicle SU 511 295 - SU 735 265 © Imperial War Museums became HMS Ariel. In 1960 the Fleet Air Bronze Age co-ordinated operational until 1997 but, of course, of-the-art museum. Arm handed the base over to the army Roman all the planning was thankfully never used. Nelson Monument, for ‘Operation © Imperial War Museums and it remains an army base. Old Winchester Vikings and 2 6 Portsdown Hill Overlord’. The Golden Lion pub became On 2 June 1944, Churchill and Hill SU 642 205 Anglo Saxons Shawford Down SU 607 072 8 the unofficial officer’s mess where members of his Cabinet; General wayside cross SU 468 245 Eishenhower enjoyed half pints of Eisenhower; Charles de Gaulle; An army training camp functioning Freedom of Entry the pub’s own-brewed bitter. Visit by Middle Ages, This cross Canadian William Lyon McKenzie King during WWII, national servicemen appointment only. The freedom honour is an ancient privilege which Tudors & Civil commemorates and South African leader Jan Smuts; all and recruits to the Green Jackets War gives the right of entry and to bear arms in a city. the troops who met on the royal train in the siding at Brigade trained here in the1950s and Historically, this right has been given to regiments marched by Droxford. A plaque marks the event. 1961-64 respectively. The parade Modern Droxford was chosen because of the that the host city can rely on for protection. It also History en-route to During , Winchester Cheesefoot Head. ground and derelict buildings remain. 14 protection against enemy aircraft signifies a special relationship between the civil and Flanders in became a major transit location for SU 530 279 During the late 1940s the camp was afforded by a deep cutting The old military authorities. The following regiments have 1914. troops destined for the Western Front. jointly run by the Rifle Brigade and © Imperial War Museums Meon Valley line closed in 1955 and been granted this honour: Vast numbers of barrack huts and the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. the station is now a private residence. 1945 The Hampshire Regiment (later The Royal Hampshire Regiment) recreation buildings were built, covering Picture: King George VI inspecting troops 1946 The King’s Royal Rifle Corps large tracts of Magdalen Hill, Winnall Picture: Droxford siding with Churchill, The Rifle Brigade / Prince Consort’s Own Eisenhower, and Smuts on the platform Down and Avington Park. The enclosure consists of a simple 1970 The Royal Army Pay Corps It is claimed the Morn Hill Camps could defensive bank and ditch built in the 1978 The Royal Green Jackets (includes the former King’s Royal Rifle Corps and The accommodate more than 50,000 1st millennium BC but there are a Rifle Brigade/Prince Consort’s Own) troops when Winchester at the time number of earlier Bronze Age burial 120ft (37m) tall on a granite base, this monument stands on Portsdown Hill, two 1992 The Princess Of Wales’s Royal Regiment (which includes the former Royal only had a population of about 20,000. © Imperial War Museums mounds within the interior. Outside miles north of Portsmouth Harbour. Designed by John Thomas Groves, it was paid Did you know? Hampshire Regiment) By late 1917, after America joined the General Eisenhower, the Supreme the western entrance to the hillfort for by the Navy. Construction began in 1807 when it was dedicated to Nelson. Every June Winchester holds a week long celebration to mark Armed Forces 1995 HMS Dryad War, Morn Hill was transferred to the Allied Commander-in-Chief of Allied there are further barrows of Bronze It is situated at a very specific point on Portsdown Hill where it could act as a sea Day. Tourist attractions, restaurants and shops offer special ‘thank yous’ to 1996 The Adjutant General’s Corps (which includes the former Royal Army Pay US Army and 700-800,000 American Forces, addressed American troops here Corps) Age date grouped around an even mark for vessels coming into Portsmouth Harbour. Of unusual design - not being in military families for their contribution to protecting the nation. troops passed through the camps. New just prior to the invasion of Normandy earlier Neolithic long barrow. the classical styles of Greece or Rome but modelled on a style of architecture from 2004 The Army Training Regiment Ethiopia - it is surmounted by a funerary bust of Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson information panels mark the history of in the early hours of 6 June 1944 that 2006 The King’s Royal Hussars the site. heralded the end of World War II. 2007 The Rifles (includes the former Royal Green Jackets)