Winchester Castle

William the Conqueror founded Winchester Castle in 1067 as one of England’s first Norman strongholds. It became the seat of royal power for over a century, hosting Norman kings and later witnessing key events like the Rout of Winchester in 1141. The castle’s Great Hall, built by Henry III between 1222 and 1235, remains one of the finest medieval halls in England. Its design follows a ‘double cube’ shape, measuring 33.5 metres long and 16.8 metres wide and high. The hall originally had lower walls and dormer windows, later replaced by tall two-light windows with early plate tracery. A Grade I listed building, it still stands today. The Great Hall houses the famous Round Table, a large wooden tabletop linked to Arthurian legend. Painted in the 16th century for Henry VIII, it features the names of King Arthur’s knights and a portrait of the young Henry VIII. Nearby, the Westgate served as the castle’s main defensive gateway and remains a preserved fortified structure. The castle’s history includes dramatic events such as the fire of 1302 that destroyed royal apartments and the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1603. The Westgate also bears a Hebrew inscription from 1287, marking a moment of Jewish persecution under Edward I. Visitors to Winchester Castle find the Great Hall with its Round Table and Winchester Panels, a series of medieval-style epigrams. Behind the hall lies Queen Eleanor’s Garden, a medieval-style garden created in 1986. The Westgate, part of the remaining city wall, stands nearby, offering a glimpse into the castle’s defensive past. The site also includes remnants of a 13th-century round tower with sally ports. Nearby, Castle Hill hosts Hampshire County Council’s Council Chamber and the Winchester Register Office. The Great Hall’s trials, from Judge Jeffreys’ Bloody Assizes to the 1973 IRA bombing trial, add layers of historical significance.