| One of the many tourist attractions in the city of | | | | colleges 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 its | | | | King's College and Cambridge later in the fifteenth |
| passed pupils have gone on to be many of Britain's | | | | century. |
| great politicians, artists and writers. Although a private | | | | The original college began with 70 scholars, 2 |
| school, members of the public can gain an insight into | | | | schoolmasters and a warden and ten fellows. Today |
| the school by simply turning up and going on a guided | | | | there 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 rightly | | | | by 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 beautiful | | | | school and physical education centre. The school's |
| cathedral in all of England. It was also once the ancient | | | | academic record speaks for itself. |
| capital of England. It was made the capital by one of | | | | Although the school is private, the tourist can avail |
| England's greatest kings; King Alfred the Great - the | | | | himself 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 indeed | | | | advance. 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 places | | | | times 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. The | | | | The visitor can also choose to walk along the river |
| college was granted its charter in 1382 to Bishop | | | | Itchen where one can see the playing fields of the |
| William of Wykeham. Building of the college began in | | | | college. 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 the | | | | ancient place of worship, founded to relieve the poor |
| richest men of his day, was one of the greatest | | | | of the parish. |
| architectural and artistic patrons of his day and his | | | | If you have the time, a tour of Winchester College is |
| medieval buildings at the College are still in use, mostly | | | | well worth while. You'll enter a world that very few of |
| for their original purposes. As well as Winchester | | | | us rarely have the chance to experience. |
| College, he also founded New College, Oxford. These | | | | |