Winchester
Winchester (18th century)Shown on an old map by Harrison 1788
- settlement, town - Buddlesgate Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1780s
Shown on an old map by Badeslade 1742
- settlement, city, market town - Hampshire
Period - 1740s
is a City & Bishoprick, sends 2 members [to Parliament] Market Wednes: & Sat: Fairs July 22 Oct: 13. 1st. Monday in Lent.
'54m' marked by the town on the map
otherwise: Venta Belgarum; Caer Gwent; Wintancester; Wintonia; Venta Simenorum
The place is described in text Cox 1738
- Hampshire
The usual old names for Winchester are given by Cox, these are hardly worth repeating.
... Some Writers affirm, that this Place was not the Venta Belgarum, but Bristol; and that this was the Venta Simenorum, but this is a great Mistake, not only because there was indeed no such People in this Island, as the Simeni, but because the Towns which Antoninus places near this Venta, are no where else to be found in the Nation.
The Original of the Name Venta, is by some derived from Ventus, Wind; Vinum, Wine; and Wina, a Bishop; but such Men do but trifle: ...
There is no doubt but this City was famous in the Roman Times, for 'tis probable that the Roman Emperors had their Imperial Weaving-Shops here, this City being the Chief of all the British Ventae, and lying nearest Italy. In the Notitia there is mention made of a Procurator or Governour of the Cynegium Ventense or Bentense in Britain, which Jacobus Cujacius, most eminent Civilian reads Gynaecium, and interprets it the Royal Weavery in his Paratitles to the Codes. Pancirollus is of the same Opinion, and says, That the Gynaecia were appointed for Weaving the Cloaths of the Emperor and Army, and for making Sails, Linen Shrouds, and other Necessaries for the Furniture of their Mansions or Quarters.
But Wolfgangus Lazius thinks, That the Procurator her took Care of the Emperor's Dogs, for indeed the Dogs of this Island were of great use among the Ancients. The Gauls used them as Soldiers, and the Romans bought them up for their Sports in the Amphitheatre and Pleasure in hunting; for Strabo says, They were [ ], which Nemesian renders, venatibus aptos, good hunters; and Claudian, Taurorum fracturos colla, Bull-dogs; and Oppian, Agasaeos, Gaze-hounds, Lurchers, Dogs for all Sports. This conjecture seems more probable than the former, because the Downs hereabouts are very convenient for Huntiing; insomuch that King Charles II began an Hunting-Seat, an divers Noblemen have House here for the Benefit of that Recreation.
... During the Saxon Heptarchy, tho' this Place was once or twice very much harassed, yet still it recovered, and became the residence of the West-Saxon Kings, adorned with magnificent Churches, and honoured with an Episcopal See, as also endowed by King Ethelstan, with the Privilege of six Mints.
In the Norman Times it much flourished, and the Archives (or publick Records) were kept in this City. It continued long in a prosperous Condition, and tho' it suffered something by one or two accidental Fires, and was plundered by the insolent Soldiers in the Civil Wars between K. Stephen and the Empress Maud (which the Poet Necham laments) yet all these Losses were sufficiently repaired by King Edward III. who settled a publick Mart here for Cloth and Wool, which was commonly called the Staple.
... As to the Town it self, the Buildings are not magnificent, but there appears such an Air of Antiquity in them, as makes them venerable. The Streets are broad and clean enough, and the Situation healthy and pleasant, being in a Valley between two very steep Hills, which defend it from cold Airs and boisterous Winds. The River Itching runs on the Borders of it. The City is walled round, and contains about a Mile and half in Compass, in which Circuit there are six Gates, and the Passage of every one of them for a considerable Way is Suburbs; so that from East to West it is a full Mile in length; but there is a good Deal of Ground within the Walls desolate, the Houses being so much destroyed by Fire or Wars, that there are hardly any Remains of them visible.
Of the thirty-two Parish-Churches (which Bishop Andrews's Register mentions to have been here) there are in this City but six Parish-Churches, viz. St. Mary Magdalene, St. Maurice, St. Laurence, St. Mary, St. George and St. Peter's, beside the Cathedral, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Period - 18th century, early
... we come to the very ancient city of Winchester; not only the great church, which is so famous all over Europe, and has been so much talk'd of, but even the whole city has, at a distance, the face of venerable, and looks ancient a far off; and yet here are many modern buildings too, and some very handsome; as the college schools; with the bishop's palace, built by Bishop Morley, since the late wars; the old palace of the bishop having been ruin'd by that known church incendiary, Sir William Waller, and his crew of plunderers; who, if my information is not wrong, as I believe it is not, destroy'd more monuments of the dead, and defac'd more churches, than all the Round-heads in England beside.
...
As the city it self stands in a vale on the bank, and at the conjunction of two small rivers, so the country rising every way, but just as the course of the water keeps the valley open, you must necessarily, as you go out of the gates, go up hill every way: But when once ascended, you come to the most charming plains, and most pleasant country of that kind in England; which continues, with very small intersections of rivers and valleys, for above fifty miles, as shall appear in the sequel of this journey.
...
Winchester is a place of no trade, other than is naturally occasion'd by the inhabitants of the city and neighbouring villages, one with another: Here is no manufacture, no navigation; there was indeed an attempt to make the river navigable from Southampton; and it was once made practicable, but it never answer'd the expence, so as to give encouragement to the undertakers.
Here is a great deal of good company; and abundance of gentry being in the neighbourhood, it adds to the sociableness of the place: the clergy also here are, generally speaking, very rich, and very numerous.
As there is such good company, so they are gotten into that new-fashion'd way of conversing by assemblies: I shall do no more than mention them here; they are pleasant and agreeable to the young people, and some times fatal to them, of which, in its place; Winchester has its share of the mirth: May it escape the ill consequences.
