Winchester Castle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Winchester Castle
Hampshire, England
The Great Hall, built by Henry III
Winchester Castle
Coordinates	51°03′45″N 1°19′14″W / 51.06243°N 1.32054°W / 51.06243; -1.32054 grid reference SU476295
Site information
Owner	Hampshire County Council
Condition	Great Hall remains, used as museum
Site history
Materials	Stone
Battles/wars	The Anarchy English Civil War
Events	Trial of Walter Raleigh Bloody Assizes

Winchester Castle is a very old building in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was started in 1067, almost 1,000 years ago! Today, only the amazing Great Hall is still standing. This hall is now a museum where you can learn all about Winchester's past.

History of Winchester Castle
Images for kids
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History of Winchester Castle

Early Days of the Castle

Long, long ago, around AD 70, the Romans built a huge earth wall here. It was about 240 meters long and 60 meters wide. On top of this, they built a fort to protect their city, which was called Venta Belgarum.

Later, in 1067, William the Conqueror chose this very spot to build one of the first Norman castles in England. Winchester Castle became a very important place. For over a hundred years, it was where the Norman Kings of England ran their government.

King Henry II added a strong stone tower, called a keep. This keep was used to keep the royal money safe and also held the famous Domesday Book. You can still see a round tower from the first castle today! In 1141, during a time of fighting called The Anarchy, the castle was attacked. The forces of Empress Matilda were surrounded by King Stephen's army in an event known as the Rout of Winchester.

Building the Great Hall

Between 1222 and 1235, King Henry III made a big addition to the castle. King Henry III was actually born at Winchester Castle! He built the magnificent Great Hall. It was designed to be a "double cube," which means it was 33.5 meters long, 16.7 meters wide, and 16.7 meters high.

The Great Hall was built using flint stones with special stone decorations. Originally, it had lower walls and a roof with small windows called dormer windows. Later, taller windows with beautiful stone patterns were added. Other parts of the castle were also extended by King Edward II. The Great Hall is now a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic site. Behind the Great Hall, a garden like those from medieval times was created in 1986. It's called Queen Eleanor's Garden.

The Famous Round Table

Inside the Great Hall, you can see a huge Arthurian Round Table. This table was first made in the 13th century. It was repainted for King Henry VIII to look as it does today. Around the edge of the table, the names of King Arthur's knights are painted. The picture of King Arthur on the table actually looks like a young King Henry VIII!

There were also special pictures called the Winchester Panels in the Great Hall. These pictures are thought to show the 25 knights of the Round Table. They illustrate the challenges people face as they grow up and go through life.

Later Years of the Castle

In 1302, King Edward I and his wife, Margaret of France, almost died when the royal living areas of the castle caught fire. On March 19, 1330, a nobleman named Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent was executed outside the castle walls. This happened because he was involved in a plot against King Edward III.

The castle remained an important royal home. On April 10, 1472, Margaret of York, who was the daughter of King Edward IV, was born there.

After Queen Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, the castle was no longer a royal residence. It was given to the city of Winchester. In 1603, a famous explorer named Sir Walter Raleigh had a very important trial in the Great Hall.

During the English Civil War, the castle was used by the Royalist side. But in 1646, it was captured by the Parliamentarian forces. Then, in 1649, Oliver Cromwell ordered the castle to be torn down.

Later, in the 17th century, King Charles II planned to build a huge royal palace next to the castle site. He wanted it to be as grand as the Palace of Versailles in France. He even hired a famous architect, Christopher Wren, to design it. However, the project was stopped by King James II.

The Great Hall was also where a famous judge, Judge Jeffreys, held trials in 1685. One well-known case involved a woman named Alice Lisle.

Today, Castle Hill, which is nearby, is where the Council Chamber for Hampshire County Council is located. The Great Hall was also used for criminal trials for a long time. In 1973, a major trial for a bombing incident took place there. The Great Hall stopped being used for criminal trials in 1974, when new law courts were built nearby.

Winchester Castle is also very close to the Westgate, which is part of the old city wall.

Images for kids

The inside of the Great Hall
The "Winchester Round Table" in the Great Hall. Scientists say it was made around 1275.
A statue of Queen Victoria in the Great Hall
Some of the castle remains, including a passage to the cellar

Winchester Castle facts for kids

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