Winchester
Winchester (17th century)Shown on an old map by Morden 1695
- settlement, town - Fawley Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1690s-1720s
Shown on an old map by Morden 1695
- roman town, town
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- settlement, city - Hampshire
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- settlement, city - Hampshire
street map
WINCHESTER
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- settlement, city - Hampshire
street map
WINCHESTER
town walls; braided stream
otherwise: Caer Gwent; Venta Belgarum
Period - 17th century
Winchester, called by the Britains, Caer Gwent, and by the Romans, Venta Belgarum; a City of great antiquity, being built by King Rudhudibras about 900 years before the birth of Christ; in the Romans time it was of note for being the place where rich embroideries were made for their Emperours: In the time of the Saxons it was twice consumed by fire, and by them rebuilt, and made the Royal Seat of the West Saxon Kings, and the chief Episcopal See; and here did Egbert and Elfred, their most renowned Monarchs, receive their Crowns and regal Scepters; and here K. AEthelstane erected six houses for his Mint: But the Danes over-running all, this City sufficiently felt their fury in the reign of King Ethelbright; and in the time of the Normans, after its misfortune by fire, it was repaired, and honoured with the keeping of the publick Records of the Kingdome; and lastly it was sore oppressed in the time of the civil Wars of Maud and Stephen; but in the reign of King Edward the third, it began to raise up its drooping head, and was by him appointed the Mart for Wooll and Cloth. This City is also famous for being the Sepulcher of so many Kings and Queens: amongst which, those of most note were Egbert in Anno 836. King Ethelwolfe son to Egbert, in Anno 857. Elfred the Founder of Oxford, in Anno 901. Elfwith Queen to Elfred, in Anno 904. King Edmund in Anno 924, with his sons Elfred and Elfward. King Edred in Anno 955. King Edwy in Anno 956. Emme in Anno 1032, with her Danish Lord Canute, in Anno 1035. Hardicanute, son to Canute, in Anno 1042. And to conclude, Richard and Rufus of the Normans, in Anno 1100. It is a City pleasantly seated in a Valley, betwixt Hills, and on the banks of a delightful River, which after about ten miles course falleth into an arm of the Sea, on which Southampton is seated. As to its extent, it is a place of about a mile and an half in circuit within the walls, which gives entrance into its Suburbs by four Gates. It is a fair City, and garnished with good buildings, both publique and private, though not without waste, and unbuilt ground within its walls; for Divine worship, hath at present but five Parish Churches, besides its cathedral ... other buildings of note are the Bishops Palace, called Woolvey-house. A fine Hall where the Assizes and Sessions are kept for the County; in which said Hall hangeth up King Arthurs round Table, which is kept as a Monument.
...
It is a place well inhabited and frequented; and its Markets, which are on Wednesdays and Saturdays, are well provided with all sorts of provisions, especially that on Saturdays.
...
It is dignified with the Title of Marquess, which at present is invested in the person of the Right Honorable John Paulet, Marquess of Winchester, &c.
Shown on an old map by Blaeu 1645
- settlement, city - Barton Stacye Hundred - Hantshire
Shown on an old map by Blaeu 1645
- roman town, town
Shown on an old map by Simmons 1643
- Hamshire
Period - 1630s-40s
Shown on an old map by Speed 1611
- settlement, city - Barton Stacye Hundred - Hantshire
The place is described in text Camden 1610
- mint - Hantshire
Period - 1600s
Upon the West banke of this river [Itchen or Alre] is situate the most famous Citie of the British Belgians, called by Ptolomee and Antoninus Venta Belgarum, by the Britans of Wales even at this day, Caer Gwent: by the Saxons in old time Wintanceaster, in Latine commonely Wintonia, and by us in these daies of Winchester.
The Etymologie of this name Venta, some fetch from Ventus, that is, Wind, others from Vinum, that is, Wine, and some againe from Wina a bishop: who all of them be farre wide, and should doe well to pray for better judgement. Yet like I rather the opinion of Leland: who hath derived it from the British word Guin or Guen, that is, White, so that Caer Guin should signifie as much, as the White Citie.
A Citie it was no doubt flourishing even in the Romans times, ...
... and became the seat roiall of the West-Saxons Kings, adorned with magnificent Churches and a Bishops Sea: furnished likewise with six mint houses by King Athelstane. In the Normans time also it flourished very much, and in it was erected an office for keeping of all publicke records and evidences of the realme. In which prosperous estate it.continued a long time: but that once or twice it was defaced by misfortune of suddaine fires, and in the civill war betweene Stephen and Maud about the Kingdome of England, sacked by the unruly and insolent souldiers.
... Edward the third who heere appointed the [mart] for woole and cloth, which we commonly call Staple; ...
In these daies of Ours it is indifferently well peopled and frequented, having water plentie, by reason of the River turned and conveighed divers waies into it, lying somewhat in length from East to West, and containeth about a mile and a halfe in circuit within the wals: which open at six gates, and have every one of them their suburbs reaching forth without, a good way.
For the Geographicall position of Winchester, it hath beene observed by former ages to bee in longitude two and twenty degrees and latitude fiftie one.
Shown on an old map by Norden 1607
- settlement, town - Fawley Hundred - Hamshire
Period - 1590s-1600s
Shown on an old map by Norden 1607
- roman town, town
Shown on an old map by Keer 1620
- Southampton
