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