Westgate, Winchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westgate, Winchester |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | High Street, Winchester, Hampshire |
| OS grid reference | SU 47812 29576 |
| Governing body | Hampshire Cultural Trust |
| Owner | Winchester City Council |
|
Listed Building – Grade I
|
|
| Official name: The Westgate, Winchester | |
| Designated | 24 March 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1350695 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Westgate is a very old and strong gate in Winchester, England. It's one of only two gates left from the old city walls that used to protect the city. The other gate is called Kingsgate.
Contents
The Westgate: Winchester's Ancient Gateway
The Westgate was built a long, long time ago. Its oldest parts are from the Anglo-Saxon period. This means it was first built over 900 years ago! The gate was rebuilt in the 1100s. It was changed again in the 1200s and late 1300s.
What Made the Westgate Strong?
In the late 1300s, new features were added to the Westgate. These included a portcullis, which is a heavy, spiked gate that could be lowered quickly. It was used to block the entrance. The gate also got two special gunports. These were small openings shaped like upside-down keyholes. They were designed for early hand-held cannons. These gunports are some of the oldest in England! The Westgate was used as a city gate until 1959. After that, the main road was built to go around it.
The Westgate as a Museum
In the 1800s, the city government of Winchester bought the Westgate. This group is now called Winchester City Council. They decided to use the Westgate as a museum. It also became a place to store important city records.
In 2014, the museum part of the Westgate was given to the Hampshire Cultural Trust. This is a group that looks after cultural sites in Hampshire.
What Can You See Inside?
Today, the Westgate Museum has many interesting things to see. You can find a famous collection of old weights and measures. These were used before the modern system of weights and measures was created.
The museum also has a beautiful painted ceiling. This ceiling was made for Winchester College. It was prepared for a special visit from Queen Mary I and Philip of Spain. They came to Winchester for their wedding in 1554.
