Visit Winchester College, England's Oldest Public Boys' School

One of the many tourist attractions in the city ofcolleges were on a scale hitherto undreamed of in
Winchester is Winchester College. It is the oldest,English education and became the model for Eton,
continuously run boys' schools in England and itsKing's College and Cambridge later in the fifteenth
passed pupils have gone on to be many of Britain'scentury.
great politicians, artists and writers. Although a privateThe original college began with 70 scholars, 2
school, members of the public can gain an insight intoschoolmasters and a warden and ten fellows. Today
the school by simply turning up and going on a guidedthere are over 600 pupils and over 80 full-time
walk.teachers. The facilities of the school are unsurpassed
The city of Winchester in Hampshire is quite rightlyby most other schools in England. Today, these include
renowned throughout the world for its many treasures.a concert hall, music school, theatre, science school, art
It can arguably boast to have the most beautifulschool and physical education centre. The school's
cathedral in all of England. It was also once the ancientacademic record speaks for itself.
capital of England. It was made the capital by one ofAlthough the school is private, the tourist can avail
England's greatest kings; King Alfred the Great - thehimself of guided tours. No prior appointment is needed
only king in England to be given the title 'the Great'.for individuals, though groups will need to book in
Winchester also was his finally resting place, as indeedadvance. The tour begins at the Porter's Gate, which is
it was for one of English literature's greatest novelists,located on College Street, just through Kingsgate. Tour
Jane Austen. You can visit both of their resting placestimes can vary but are typically every 2 hours. Times
in the great city. The city has remained an unspoilt,can be found on the chalk board outside the Porter's
beautiful and compact city.Gate.
Another of its gems is Winchester College. TheThe visitor can also choose to walk along the river
college was granted its charter in 1382 to BishopItchen where one can see the playing fields of the
William of Wykeham. Building of the college began incollege. The walk along the river is idyllic and will
1387 and the first scholars entered the college in 1394.eventually lead you to St Cross Hospital -another
William of Wykeham, as well as being one of theancient place of worship, founded to relieve the poor
richest men of his day, was one of the greatestof the parish.
architectural and artistic patrons of his day and hisIf you have the time, a tour of Winchester College is
medieval buildings at the College are still in use, mostlywell worth while. You'll enter a world that very few of
for their original purposes. As well as Winchesterus rarely have the chance to experience.
College, he also founded New College, Oxford. These