Academics at the University of Winchester will be shedding light on some of the city’s darker corners and forgotten folk during Winchester Heritage Open Days (12-21 September).
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our history and culture. It's a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences for free.
Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, Dr Cindy Wood will be conducting two Walking Tours of Medieval Winchester
Her walk will consider which parts of the City remain from the earlier, medieval, period. It will concentrate on the High Street and cathedral close, exploring the people who lived and worked in these areas, the lost parish churches and remains, often hidden in full view.
“The tour It looks at the city from a personal level - the names of leaseholders, their livelihoods and lifestyles,” said Cindy. “Hopefully this tour will show participants another view of the City, and its long history.”
Cindy’s 90-minute tours take place on 13 September at 10am and 2pm from the West Gate at the top of the High Street. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked before 10 September.
Although the route is over pavements and pedestrianised areas around the city centre, the organisers cannot guarantee all parts will be suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
Dr Christina Welch, Reader in Religious Studies and Death Studies, will be telling the stories of some of the fascinating people buried at West Hill Cemetery (pictured top).
Christina has researched the history of the cemetery, opened in 1840, and has many extraordinary tales of its occupants including American bare-knuckled boxer Charles Freeman, famous for his bouts with William Perry, 'The Tipton Slasher'.
Other stories about the memorialised include the policeman that caught the first railway murderer, and a mother and her three children who died in the poorest parts of the city. Christina will also point out the anchor where the Sexton’s dog was once tethered, and where the cemetery’s two chapels stood.
The cemetery tours take place on Saturday 20 September at 11am and Sunday 21 September at 2pm. From West Hill Lodge, Saint James' Lane, Winchester SO22 4NY.
The aftermath of a violent rural uprising will be examined in 'Captain Swing Riots Bicentenary Commemoration: The Architecture of Crime and Punishment'.
The Captain Swing Riots of 1830 ended with 300 men from all over the country facing a variety of charges, including riotous assembly and machine breaking, at the Grand Assize in Winchester’s Great Hall.
Many of the rioters - who were protesting against poor pay and conditions and the rise of mechanisation which threatened their jobs – were sentenced to transportation to Australia.
Among the speakers at the event will be Christopher Mulvey, Professor Emeritus of English at the University, who will talk about prison lingo and the Swing folk song 'The Owslebury Lads', which the audience will be encouraged to sing.
The event is on Saturday, September 13, from 11am at the United Church in Jewry Street.
Find out more about these and other events taking place during Heritage Open Days at Winchester Heritage Open Days.
The event is on Saturday, September 13, from 11am at the United Church in Jewry Street.
Find out more about these and other events taking place during Heritage Open Days at Winchester Heritage Open Days.
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