Winchester College, England's Oldest Public Boy's School ( VIDEO )

By Robin Cassidy

One of the many tourist attractions in the city of Winchester is Winchester College. It is the oldest, continuously run boys' schools in England and its passed pupils have gone on to be many of Britain's great politicians, artists and writers. Although a private school, members of the public can gain an insight into the school by simply turning up and going on a guided walk.

The city of Winchester in Hampshire is quite rightly renowned throughout the world for its many treasures. It can arguably boast to have the most beautiful cathedral in all of England. It was also once the ancient capital of England. It was made the capital by one of England's greatest kings; King Alfred the Great - the only king in England to be given the title 'the Great'. Winchester also was his finally resting place, as indeed it was for one of English literature's greatest novelists, Jane Austen. You can visit both of their resting places in the great city. The city has remained an unspoilt, beautiful and compact city.

Another of its gems is Winchester College. The college was granted its charter in 1382 to Bishop William of Wykeham. Building of the college began in 1387 and the first scholars entered the college in 1394. William of Wykeham, as well as being one of the richest men of his day, was one of the greatest architectural and artistic patrons of his day and his medieval buildings at the College are still in use, mostly for their original purposes. As well as Winchester College, he also founded New College, Oxford. These colleges were on a scale hitherto undreamed of in English education and became the model for Eton, King's College and Cambridge later in the fifteenth century.

The original college began with 70 scholars, 2 schoolmasters and a warden and ten fellows. Today there are over 600 pupils and over 80 full-time teachers. The facilities of the school are unsurpassed by most other schools in England. Today, these include a concert hall, music school, theatre, science school, art school and physical education centre. The school's academic record speaks for itself.

Although the school is private, the tourist can avail himself of guided tours. No prior appointment is needed for individuals, though groups will need to book in advance. The tour begins at the Porter's Gate, which is located on College Street, just through Kingsgate. Tour times can vary but are typically every 2 hours. Times can be found on the chalk board outside the Porter's Gate.

The visitor can also choose to walk along the river Itchen where one can see the playing fields of the college. The walk along the river is idyllic and will eventually lead you to St Cross Hospital -another ancient place of worship, founded to relieve the poor of the parish.

If you have the time, a tour of Winchester College is well worth while. You'll enter a world that very few of us rarely have the chance to experience.

Robin O'Brien lives and works in Winchester and is founder of Winchester-tourist-information.com. You can find out more about Winchester College and book on-line to stay in one of the many fine hotels in Winchester.

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